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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

PPP: We honour and celebrate the achievements, sacrifices of those who came THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to extend greetings to all Guyanese on the occasion of Arrival Day, observed on May 5. It is a day of much significance to our country and all of its people, as it brings into focus the invaluable contributions of our ancestors who came to these shores from various parts of the world. It is also a day to commemorate their arrival and monumental achievements. Arrival Day also affords us the opportunity to be imbued with a tremendous sense of pride and reflect on the selfless and invaluable contributions our ancestors and their descendants made to the development of our nation. Their untold sacrifices and resoluteness, which must not

be allowed to be forgotten, led to the building of a strong nation and improved standards of living for future generations. The determined efforts of our ancestors, despite the hardships they faced, to remain steadfast and preserve their cultural traditions have led to the creation of a rich and colourful mosaic, which is our multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural Guyana. This diversity has become our hallmark. As we all observe this day, our party urges reflection on the valiant efforts of our ancestors so that we can all continue to be inspired and be better able to contextualise the value of our gains. Inspired by the sacrifices and achievements of our ancestors, we must remain determined to build upon the gains that have been

made: To ensure that our country remains a place for all of its sons and daughters; to safeguard our hard-won freedoms; to ensure that peace is not compromised, and to ensure that the safety of our people is paramount. Recognising the value of the gains we have made to date, we must continue to work together as one people to further advance the development of our nation for the betterment of all Guyanese. Our party would also like to commend all who have worked steadfastly over the years, as well as those who continue to do so, on the promotion of activities designed to foster greater awareness and preservation of our history, values, and cultural traditions. Happy Arrival Day to all! People’s Progressive Party.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

Ambassador Srinivasa: Arrival Day is a time to celebrate Guyana’s rich diversity Namaste. Greetings from the High Commission of India. On behalf of the Government and people of India, I extend my best wishes to all Guyanese and friends of Guyana on the occasion of Arrival Day. The histories of all nations contain certain significant junctures which point to a reshaping and a transformation of society. For Guyana, one of those junctures was the arrival of the Ship Whitby into then British Guiana 184 years ago from the port of Calcutta. It was on this day in 1838, the first group of Indian Immigrants, as Indentured Labour, set foot on this land at Highbury on Berbice River to work on sugar plantations. Thus 5th May is a very important day in the history of Guyana and is celebrated as Arrival Day because the arrival in Guyana from India substantially changed the course of Guyana’s history. It is also an important day for the Indo-Guyana bilateral relations as the cultural linkages brought in by the East Indians still act as a bridge between Guyana and India. Arrival Day is a celebration of a nation carved out of the meetings of many worlds and cultures and we commemorate the arrival of the many peoples who came to these shores. Ancestors of present day Guyanese came from various parts of the world: Europe, Africa and Asia, and those who came met the Indigenous people. History informs us that not all came freely and of their own volition; some were forcibly brought here, and others were lured by the promise of a better life and opportunities. In the case of the indentured labourers from India, historians tell us that for varying reasons, these men and women left the

High Commissioner of India, Dr K J Srinivasa

familiarity of their homes in the pursuit of the promise of a better future. Their arrival brought in new traditions, a new language and new ways of thinking. The preservation of these customs enabled those pioneers to cope with the arduous journey across the seas and the daily rigours associated with the harsh realities of life on the estates. Whether they came as slaves or as indentured labourers, they all had to endure the indignity of a cruel system. These challenging conditions were met with great persistence and a determination to succeed. The outcome of those efforts is evident today and has been woven into the fabric of the identity of Guyana where they continue to make, an indelible mark in Guyana’s national development. This country has always benefitted from the rich heritage and the diversity of the experiences of its people. Those very experiences enable us to transcend societal and economic differences. As we are all aware, Indian religious rituals, cuisine, customs and traditions have indeed enriched the country’s cultural mosaic. Indian enterprise diversified the local economy. Indian descendants ventured successfully into Continued on page 4A

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

Ambassador Srinivasa: Arrival Day... From page 3A politics and were active in social organisations and in sport. Indians have achieved prominence in all aspects of national life. They cultivated respectful relations with

other races and, in so doing, fostered the development of a more cohesive nation. They are an integral part of the political system and, together with other ethnic groups, contributed to the evolution of Guyana’s demography,

economy and society. It is fascinating to note that so many years after the arrival of the last ship in 1917, the desire for the exchange of ideas and economic cooperation persists. It is my hope that the cultural ties

that this nation shares with India will facilitate a deeper understanding and collaboration at the global level. We would continue to work together toward mutual benefits and closer ties. It is in consideration of all of these things

that today’s celebrations have taken on a renewed and more potent significance. Let us continue to be encouraged by the sacrifice and bravery of the people who helped to shape this nation. Today, we pay our humble tributes to the contribution of all those who came to Guyana either as slaves or as indentured immigrants or as volunteers and their descendants. Arrival Day is a time to celebrate the diversity

spawned by the many peoples that came. It is a time to recognise how privileged the nation is to be a nation of so many cultures, each adding richness and value to the national tapestry. It is time to reaffirm your commitment to Guyana so that it can continue to traverse along the road of peace, unity and progress. I once again wish all of you a very Happy and Safe Arrival Day. God bless you all. Long live Guyana-India partnership.

The people who came contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s development

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) extends greetings to all Guyanese on the observance of Arrival Day 2022. It commemorates the arrival, at different historical points, of numerous indentured servants in a hodgepodge of diverse cultures to replace slave labour on the sugar plantations. The role of the colonial power, without argument, was responsible for facilitating a labour supply made up of different faces who made unique contributions. The ERC reiterates the need for Guyanese of all ethnicities to remember their history which has irreversibly shaped our country. Today, we celebrate the enrichment of diversity that Arrival Day embodies in the shaping of modern Guyana. Arrival Day is

most significant for what it represents in the context of the multi-faceted mosaic it created and for which our country is known. We are multi-ethnic as a result of the untold sacrifices, desires and steadfastness of our ancestors, to practise and preserve their rich and colourful cultural traditions. As One Guyana, it is evident that many participate meaningfully in each other’s festivities that have become truly national observances. Over time, that rich, beautiful and vibrant diversity has become our strength and common bond in the process of becoming one people, working towards a common destiny. Happy Arrival Day to all!

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

PNC/R pays homage to the people who came The PNC/R extends best wishes to the entire Guyanese nation on the occasion of Arrival Day 2022. For this year’s observances, the PNCR has chosen the theme, “safeguarding and building on our rich heritage.” May 5th has been designated as the special occasion when we pay homage to the arrival of indentured workers to these shores regardless of their origin. It also marks the anniversary of the arrival of our East Indian ancestors on this day in 1838. The arrival of these various Guyanese ancestors has added to the multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-cultural magnificence of Guyana. This rich diversity today is rooted and given unity in our shared experiences, shared goals, and shared destiny as One Nation. The untiring efforts and enormous sacrifices of these ancestors have helped to build a nation that today we are proud to call home, that we are ready to represent and defend, and that we are

willing to keep building. True, much more work remains to be done as we today undertake, in the words of the preamble of Guyana’s Constitution, “our collective quest for a perfect nation.” Arrival Day therefore should cause us to recommit to the charge in the very preamble to “safeguard and build on the rich heritage, won through tireless struggle, bequeathed us by our forebears.” To strengthen national integration and social cohesion by according due respect and recognition to the various ethnic groups in our multicultural society, the former Leader of the PNCR and President of Guyana, David Granger, issued two public notices: (i) on February 27, 2017, he designated May 3rd each year as Portuguese Arrival Day; and (ii) on January 6, 2017, he designated January 12th each year as Chinese Arrival Day. Given these changed cirContinued on page 6A

PNC/R pays homage... From page 5A cumstances surrounding the original purpose of Arrival Day - coupled with the fact that Guyanese of African and Amerindian origin have designated days or months to celebrate their distinct heritages - the PNC/R hereby joins the call for the May 5th observances to be officially recognised henceforth as Indian Arrival Day. Designating May 5th as Indian Arrival Day also respects the historic fact that the date specifically marks the arrival of the first Indian Indentured labourers to these shores. May 5th therefore should be wholly devoted to celebrating the valuable contribution that our East Indian brothers and sisters have made to the development of our country and the shaping of its rich cultural tapestry. Separate Arrival Days for Guyanese of Indian,

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

IAC: Our culture should be preserved through specialised centres of learning By Maureen Rampertab

Portuguese, and Chinese descent; a Heritage Month for Guyanese of Amerindian descent; and Emancipation Day for Guyanese of African descent should all be seen as occasions to celebrate our distinct ethnic identities and cultural expressions, while at the same time embracing our unity in diversity, our mutual respect, our common understandings, and our shared destiny. Happy Arrival Day to all Guyanese!

The Indian Action Committee (IAC) wishes all Guyanese a Happy Arrival Day and especially calls upon all citizens to remember the 184th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians in Guyana. The IAC, an organisation which promotes and preserves Indian culture and deals with the issues and concerns of persons of Indo-Guyanese origin, over the years has provided Guyanese with historical information regarding the arrival of just over 239,000 Indian immigrants who came to this country aboard 245 Coolie Ships which made a total of 534 voyages across the Kaalaa Paanii between

1838 and 1917. The IAC, as the organisation has done over the years, continues to recognise the endeavours by these Indian immigrants and their descendants, the persons of Indo-Guyanese origin, to develop this country. The IAC, which has recognised important contributions by giving awards to persons from Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo, is aware that tens of thousands

of East Indians have made valuable efforts in all fields of human activity in this country including business and commerce; banking and finance; the sugar and rice industries; coconuts and other crops; fishery and livestock; mining and quarrying; forestry and sawmilling; education and academia; medicine and law; journalism and communications; accounting and insurance; private and national security; the hospitality and

aviation sectors; the alcohol and beverage industries; sport and entertainment; culture and religion; and politics and governance. The IAC, in light of the continuous discoveries of massive amount of oil and gas offshore, is calling upon the authorities to, in future, expend some of this newfound wealth to promote and preserve the cultural history of Guyana in the form of new museums, cultural centres, and educational academies. The IAC exhorts all Guyanese to deeply focus on their cultural history in order to understand the present and plan for a prosperous future. A Happy Arrival Day to all.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022

They created footholds for a progressive future

We honour our ancestors who crossed the Kala Pani 184 years ago. The first ship, the Whitby, that brought indian indentured servants to this land sailed from the ports of Calcutta and landed here on 5th May, 1838 at

Plantation Highbury. History had framed their journey in portraits so one day we could find the connection to the motherland. My great, great grandparents, Kowlesure and Gunais from Uttar Pradesh, North of

Photo credit: ameenagafoorinstitute.org

India, near to Nepal and China, came to these shores of British Guiana in 1887 aboard the ship Foyle. They were allocated to Plantation Port Mourant. They had come a long way from the poor, dusty village

of Mother India, sailing for months under inhuman conditions, as poor souls who died during the long journey were tossed into the sea. Desperate men and women had followed a dream for a better life, that in their eyes was painted in bright

colours. But the naked reality when their bare feet touched this green land splashed shades of grey on the picture. The blood, sweat and tears under indentureship rule and their unbroken resolve kept alive their culture and religion

as they paved smooth paths, creating footholds for a progressive future, a legacy we the East Indians of today have inherited. The portrait over the century was repainted in a hue of colours.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 5, 2022