Struggles of Guyanese ancestors must continue - President
- during Highbury arrival day celebrations
Georgetown, GINA, May 5, 2012
Guyanese symbolically returned to the scene at Highbury, East Bank Berbice to witness a re-enactment of the arrival of the first batch of 128 nationals from India arrived to work as indentured immigrants on the then British Guiana colony 174 years ago.
Gay Park, East Bank Berbice youths reciting the Indian national pledge during Arrival Day celebrations at Highbury
President Donald Ramotar was among those in attendance as a replica of the Whitby carrying persons dressed in costumes portraying ancient European and East Indian immigrants, paraded through a newly constructed arch to an awaiting cultural commemoration prorgamme.
On May 5, 1838, 233 men, five women and six children from India were the first batch of East Indian immigrants to have arrived onboard the Whitby at Highbury to supplement the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society in which Guyana today prides itself.
A replica of the Whitby that brought the first batch of Indian indentured immigrants to Guyana at Highbury, East Bank Berbice, during Arrival Day celebrations
Today’s anniversary celebration, organised by the Berbice Indian Cultural Centre Committee was one of fanfare with a fusion of African and tassa drumming, traditional Indian songs and dances and, with the Dax New Generation Band featuring prominently.
In his address, President Donald Ramotar reminded the gathering of the efforts of Guyanese ancestors, who together laid the foundation for the country’s ethnic composition.
But the tyranny that the ancestors faced in that era, including the struggles of African slaves, was highlighted by President Ramotar who made reference to the first orchestrated rebellion in 1763 in Berbice that marked the beginning of the end to slavery in the western hemisphere.
President Donald Ramotar speaking during Arrival Day celebrations at Highbury, East Bank Berbice
But as the indentureship period began, the East Indian immigrants found themselves continuing the struggle to end disenfranchisement and inhumane conditions of work.
President Ramotar said the right to vote was the first line of priority in the struggle that was achieved through the valiant efforts of stalwarts like the late President and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) co-founder Dr. Cheddi Jagan.
President Ramotar hailed the late President, as “an intellectual, a fighter and a revolutionary against oppression everywhere.”
His struggles led to Guyana gaining independence from Britain in 1966 and becoming a sovereign state, crafting its own destiny and taking on new challenges in a rapidly progressive modern world.
A section of the large gathering during Arrival Day celebrations at Highbury, East Bank Berbice
“We still face a very unequal world where we have a lot of difficulties to carry on. International trade still goes against us and, the very people who colonised us in the past are still the ones who, although they are losing their grip gradually, still dominate in many of these international institutions,” President Ramotar said.
He encouraged the gathering to carry on the mantle started by the ancestors, using unity as the arsenal, since, “there is no way we can fight this discrimination one against the other.”
Indian cultural dancing during Arrival Day celebrations at Highbury, East Bank Berbice
Convinced that people are at the centre of development in a country, President Ramoar said his government has and will continue to craft budgets relative to the needs of the population but, with the $20.9B of funds cut from the 2012 national budget, he implored the gathering and citizens on the whole to demand an unconditional reinstatement of the funds that are geared to improve the country’s productive capacity.
President Donald Ramotar surrounded by eager Region Six residents
His urging was welcomed with loud cheers from the audience even as Alliance For Change’s leader Khemraj Ramjattan whose party, along with the A Partnership For National Unity cut the budget, and who was an invited guest, sat in apparent amusement.
There were also loud cheers when President Ramotar gave the assurance that road repairs to the East Bank Berbice access road will be undertaken this year as is included in the 2012 national budget.
