Historic Inner City of Paramaribo

• Legal framework
• Management systems/ management plan

Total amount granted: USD 23,000 for the project “Management Plan for Paramaribo” in 2010; and USD 125,362 provided for the project “Inner City of Paramaribo. Phase I & II” from 2005 to 2008 (UNESCO/Netherlands Funds in Trust)

On 14 January 2020, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/940/documents/, which reports the following:

• The Inter-American Development Bank IADB-funded Paramaribo Urban Rehabilitation Programme (PURP) is in full operation. A number of actions have been completed or are being undertaken on issues such as a housing strategy for the historic city centre, an inventory and manual on rehabilitation of historic buildings, urban mobility, a communication and social engagement plan, restoration of three government-owned historic buildings, reconstruction of the former National Assembly building. The Updated Management Plan 2020-2024 was completed in June 2019, but it is expected to be officially approved by the Government;
• In the context of the PURP, a Strategic Master Plan for the entire Waterfront was developed, via a participatory process, and consists of comprehensive design strategies for a sustainable and lively waterfront. A consultant is being selected to prepare a final executive design for the rehabilitation of part of the Waterfront, which will not necessarily follow the design set out in the Master Plan. Once completed, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) will be conducted. As the rehabilitation of the Waterfront may impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, the preliminary design will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review;
• The license for construction at the Waterfront was withdrawn in February 2018;
• The proposal to extend the property boundaries was discussed with relevant authorities but, to date, no action has been taken to formalize this proposal;
• In response to the Committee’s request regarding the destruction of four buildings, it is reported that three were located within the property. Two of these were not listed as monuments (Watermolenstraat 16 and 18), and were partly damaged by fire but remain occupied. The third building (Watermolenstraat 20), a C-listed monument, was illegally demolished. The fourth building, located in the buffer zone (Wagenwegstraat 62), also a C-listed monument, was replaced by a new wooden building in a historic style with approximately the same measurements;
• Ample attention is given to fire prevention and disaster management both in the recently-completed Retrofit Manual for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings, and in the Updated Management Plan 2020-2024;
• The decay of several monumental buildings within the property remains a concern and it is unclear when they will be restored.

Important actions are being undertaken in the framework of the PURP in a wide variety of areas such as housing, mobility, water management, communication and the updating of the Management Plan for 2020-2024.

The withdrawal of the license for construction at the Waterfront, and the development of a Strategic Master Plan (SMP) for the whole Waterfront, is highly welcomed. The version submitted by the State Party aims to prepare the city for a one-metre rise in sea level by the end of this century. This is highly relevant for the conservation of the property and, at the same time, poses a major challenge for the adaptation of one of its most important attributes. The State Party should be commended for its intention to involve the World Heritage Centre in the review of final designs in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.

It is unfortunate that the State Party has not made any progress in the extension of the boundaries of the property to include a 50-metre strip along the river - which is even more relevant and urgent in light of the Waterfront development - nor in the extension of the buffer zones. Therefore, the State Party should be urged to complete this process following the procedures established for a Minor Boundary Modification.

The demolition, destruction by fire or decay of monumental buildings is considered to be a key factor affecting the property. The State Party should be recommended to actively pursue the restoration of publicly-owned buildings, raise awareness among private owners, support private initiatives and enforce obligations under local legislation.

It is noted with interest that under PURP, three government-owned buildings are being restored and that the former National Assembly Building will be reconstructed.

Regarding the former National Assembly Building, the State Party and ICOMOS engaged in a constructive consultation process, including ICOMOS Technical Reviews of three successive design stages. Agreement was reached on a final design that implies the reconstruction of the volumes, roofs and three façades (front and sides) of the original buildings, while use of contemporary materials and architectural language in the interior and back sides of the buildings has been accepted. ICOMOS emphasizes that this should be considered an exceptional case under exceptional circumstances (such as the existence of reliable drawings and documentation; that these buildings are essential elements in the urban landscape of this part of the inner city; and the importance in the collective memory of the population of these landmark buildings of the periods of colonialism and independence) and should not be seen as a precedent for other cases. In this sense, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to submit as soon as possible the projects and designs of the three government-owned buildings (Mirandastraat 10 and Waterkant 30-32) that will be restored under PURP, as well as the guidelines that are included in the Retrofit Manual for the Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies.