City proposes computerisation of burial records

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is exploring the computerisation of records stored in the Sexton Division of its City Engineer’s Department, as well as the re-establishment of a Cemetery Committee.

The Le Repentir Cemetery, maintained by the M& CC, was established in 1861 to accommodate the remains of citizens of Georgetown. A release from the M&CC noted that several religious organizations were given specific sections, including the Muslims, Hindus, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Chinese, Bahais and the Presbyterians.

The city’s release related that out of the last special finance meeting, came the agreement that records from the Sexton Division ought to be computerized for easy retrieval. It was noted that among these records are burial registers which contain the names and burial places of citizens. “This information serves as an important resource … relating to lineage,” the M&CC stated.

The release further said that a proposal was made for the establishment of a Cemetery Committee. It was noted that between the years 2016 to 2018, the M&CC had commenced a process to resuscitate the cemetery and several contractors were hired. However, the council faced difficulty with upkeeping a consistent maintenance schedule, as well as battled with high maintenance costs and “aggressive aquatic growth”.

Hence, the new committee, which would include members of the private sector, would be tasked with producing a policy plan for cemetery maintenance and for the development of “new facilities relating to the modernization and the pursuit of public private partnership”.

The release said that Councillor Patricia ChaseGreen had noted at the meeting that previously, former Mayor, Hamilton Green, had established a Cemetery Committee, which became defunct.