An Update on District Grand Charity Trust – March 13th 2010
Members of the Trust met on Friday February 5th 2010. The Financial
situation of the District was reviewed. The principal source of funds is the
receipts from fund-raising activities of the District Grand Charity and dues
from the Lodges. The Trustees, through the District Grand Charity and the
District Board of Benevolence, are committed to discharge their responsibilities
to deserving causes in the wider community and to the Brethren and their
families who may be in need. To this end the sum of $1,000,000 had been approved
for donation to ten Charities. These presentations were made in February 2010.
As opposed to the previous year, the presentation to a Charity based in Berbice
was made at the Masonic Hall in Ferry Street New Amsterdam by the Asst. Dist.
Grand Master. In future, presentations to identified Charities in Berbice and Linden will be made at their respective Temples. The Trustees are of the view that
this will contribute to the positive visibility of Freemasonry in those
communities. The Trustees have now
assumed full responsibility for oversight of expenditure on District
Administration for Freemasons’ Hall Company Path, including the Fire Insurance
previously paid by Union Lodge. The Trustees have also undertaken to give
meaningful support to the maintenance and preservation of the other Masonic
buildings in the District.
Estimates for essential repairs to Masonic buildings have been received as
follows:
Masonic Hall (Carmichael Street,
Georgetown)
$ 897,188.00
Masonic Hall (Ferry St, New Amsterdam)
$ 3,487,129.00
Masonic Hall (Kara Kara, Linden)
$ 2,220,000.00
Following meetings with the Brethren of Ituni, Phoenix
and Kara Kara Lodges, it has been agreed that this work will be progressed in
phases. The Trust will provide grants for the sum of $731,000 for initial work
on the Eastern wing of the Masonic Hall, Ferry Street,
New Amsterdam and $650,000 for the commencement of works to Masonic Hall, Kara
Kara, Linden. The most critical sections of
this building are the front and north-western walls.
A discussion with representatives of Mount Olive Lodge will be held early
in April 2010, to determine the priorities for that Masonic Hall. It is
anticipated that there will be significant progress towards these goals in 2010
All the Lodges involved appreciate that they will be required to make their own
efforts to raise funds to effect the realisation of these projects in full. To
this end the Trustees will continue to work with the Committees responsible for
these Buildings to ascertain how
soon their individual efforts can be expected to achieve these objectives.
The project to modernise and rehabilitate the
District
Grand Lodge Building – Freemasons’ Hall will commence in
earnest in 2010. The plan is for the construction of a concrete structure. The
estimated cost is presently $53,000,000. Given the reported recognition of the
building by the National Trust for its historical significance, the extent to
which particular architectural features need to be preserved will have to be
ascertained. This substantial sum required will be raised by a combination of
fund raising and investments within Guyana and
abroad. A committee has been established to prepare an “Investment Prospectus”
to attract likely donors. This
Prospectus will provide information on the Historical significance of the
Building, the contribution of Freemasonry to society and the plans for
utilisation of the new building. The Committee comprises:
W Bro Colin Kirton
-
Convenor
W Bro Paul Carto
W Bro Keith Evelyn
Bro
Carlton
James
W Bro Rawle Jordan
The Trustees have also considered the resuscitation of a previous effort by the
District to support education by the creation of a fund for a deserving final
year student at the University
of Guyana. This project has not progressed as
may have been expected but remains an important and worthy objective and will
require greater effort and commitment. The Trustees are actively pursuing the
introduction of a Masonic Benevolent or Provident Fund for Freemasons in
Guyana, which could include provision and support for widows and
dependents of Freemasons, as well as a Group Medical Insurance Scheme (Family
Benefit Unit) for Masons. The proposal has stimulated interest by members of the
main Masonic Districts and a Working group convened by the President of the
Dist.
B of B, comprising of
representatives of the Dist G Lodge (SC) and Dist G Lodge (EC) and including a
Trustee, has been established to recommend an appropriate focus for Freemasons
in Guyana.
Presented by: W Bro Doodnauth
Persaud, PGJD, DDistGM
March 20, 2010.