National Trust of Guyana
The National Trust of Guyana, which was established in 1972, has the responsibility of preserving all monuments in Guyana in accordance with the National Trust Act, No. 7 of 1972. The Act “makes provision for the preservation of monuments, sites, places, and objects of historic interest or national importance.”
The structure called the Umana Yana was built in Kingston, Georgetown in 1972. It is a 55-foot high cone-shaped benab constructed by Amerindians of the Wai Wai tribe from thatched allibanna and manicole palm leaves, and wallaba posts lashed together with mukru, turu and nabbi vines. No nails were used.
It was specially constructed to serve as a V.I.P. lounge and recreation spot during the Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference held in Georgetown in August 1972. The Umana Yana shelters an area of approximately 460 square meters. Umana Yana is an Amerindian expression for "meeting place of the people."