Indian_Ariival_Day_Supplement_05_05_2021

Arrival Day 2021

Chinese in Guyana

SEE INSIDE

East Indian Immigration and its significance

The Forgotten People —the African indentured labourers and the immigration scheme

Portuguese: Small in numbers but big in business

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GUYANA CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

Arrival Day 2021 Message of His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana I greet all Guyanese on the occasion of Arrival Day 2021. This special day is commemorated as a public holiday on May 5th each year. It celebrates the contributions to the national development of our African, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese and European ancestors and their descendants.

The declaration of May 5th as Arrival Day followed the passage onApril 14th, 2003, in our National Assembly, of Resolution No. 12 of 2003.

Arrival Day is a day of recognition and appreciation of our nation's multicultural character. Arrival Day challenges us to appreciate our diverse peoples and their cultures and encourages us to strive for a society in which the contributions of every ethnic group arerecognized, respected and rewarded.

It is towards that objective that I have committed to launching a One Guyana Commission. The Commission will become an instrument for valuing and re-

specting one another. As I indicated in my inaugural address to the National Assembly, theCommission's work will benational in scope. It would involve engaging our citizenry about how every Guyanese can honour his or her ancestral heritagewhile fashioning our blended Guyanese civilization. I urge you all to be part of this important undertaking.

Today,5th May, also marks Indian Arrival Day. This year we are commemorating the 183rd anniversary of the arrival of the first batch of Indian indentured immigrants to our shores.

The contributions of Indians to national development are indelible and undisputable. Indians have excelled in all aspects of national life.

They have alsopassed on a precious legacy, one which should be preserved for and transmitted to future generations.

The Indians who came to Guyana, beginning in 1838, demonstrated steadfast resilience in the face of great adversity.They persevered

President, Dr Irfaan Ali

in the face of hardships, deprivations,oppression and back-breaking exertions. Today we can all be inspired by their sacrifices and resilience.

Today we are faced with challenges. But if we work together in unity and love, regardless of ethnicity, lineage or political affiliation, we

are bound to overcome these challenges.Let us, therefore, pool our ideas and resources and work towards eliminating some of the ills – such as suicide, domestic abuse, poverty, ignorance, substance abuse and the COVID-19 pandemic. All of these have the potential to inflict dis-

affection, discomfort and distress in our society. Let us also reject hate-filled, rancorousrhetoric aimed at dividing our people.

On this Arrival Day, let us all commit to pooling our efforts to build a stronger, united, freer and more prosperous nation, one in which we can exult in the vitality of our various peoples and their cultures.

Today as we celebrate the arrival day, let us remember that we are stronger together.

Let us remember that every group that came did so for improvement, did so to have improved living conditions, did so that successive generation will be better off.

We have an enormous opportunity today to leave a Guyana that will be incredibly better for the generation that will follow. We can only do this if we understand that collectively, in our collective strength, in our collective wisdom and the pooling together of our energies, it is only then that we can be the best and become one Guyanese people.

All of us face various degrees of adversities. But, at the end of it all, our ancestors taught us that with perseverance, patience, kindness, love, unity, and purpose, how much can be achieved.

Today, we are blessed with tremendous natural resources. We have to go back to that inner strength of our ancestors to overcome all that will be thrown at us. That inner strength is what we need to build a unified coalition to improve the lives of each other and bring freedom to this land. That inner strength with our capacity and the opportunities that lie ahead when blended indeed can leave for this generation and generations to come enough that we can all say in a unified voice, we are proud to be part of this land.

We are proud to be Guyanese, we are proud of our ancestors, and we are proud of all that they did to make our lives better.

Thank you very much.

God bless you, and please continue to stay safe.

Message by the High Commissioner of India, HE Dr K J Srinivasa, on the occasion of Indian Arrival Day-2021 in Guyana ON behalf of the Government of India and the High Commission of India in Guyana, I wish to extend my best wishes to all Guyanese brothers and sisters on the occasion of the Indian Arrival Day on May 5. Starting from Port of Calcutta in India, on 13th January 1838 by the ship ‘Whitby’ and after travelling for 114 days arrived in Guyana; it was on this day, in 1838, that the first group of Indian Immigrants set foot on this beautiful land of Guyana at Highbury on Berbice River.

2. It is very heartwarming to note that the Indo-Guyanese still retain their Indian traditions and culture despite settling down in a far-off country. The most striking aspect of the Indo-Guyanese in Guyana is their strength of resilience and adaptation. Indian culture has a big influence on the overall culture of Guyana, be it music, food, language, art, religion, tradition, rituals, costumes, etc.

High Commissioner of India, Dr K J Srinivasa 3. The Indian diaspora in Guyana has and is playing a crucial role in the economic, political and social dethe world over. velopment of the country. They have excelled in almost 5. On this occasion I would like to commend major Inall areas. India is very proud of the achievements by the do-Guyanese socio-cultural-religious organisations which Indo-Guyanese Diaspora and their role in the develop- have been the torchbearers of preserving Indianness - Guyment of Guyana. The Pravasi Bhartiya Divas held in ana Hindu Dharmic Sabha under Hon’ble Minister, Dr India has honoured such Guyanese achievers with the Vindhya Vasini Persaud, the Indian Commemorative Trust Pravasi Bhartiya Award. led by Dr Yesu Persaud, HSS - Hindus for Selfless Service, 4. I consider it indeed a matter of honour and privilege Indian Action Committee, Cove & John Ashram, Saraswati for me to serve as the Indian High Commissioner to this Vidya Niketan, etc.

Girmitiya land. The priority of the current Government of 7. The Government of India has been closely working India led by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra with Government of Guyana in several sectors and has deModi, is to build everlasting links with the Indian Diaspora livered on various projects so far. Now we are working on

over US$ 100 million worth of Indian grants and lines of credit for building roads, hospitals and a ferry, solar panels, collaborations in agriculture, rice, sugar, etc. while oil and gas, education scholarships will be the future.

8. Availing this opportunity, I would like to reassure you that the High Commission would be happy to work closely with the Government and people of Guyana and extend its hand of collaboration in more areas of benefit to the people of Guyana. It is our aim and endeavor to see that the expertise and capacities available with India is shared with our friendly country Guyana. I fondly hope that we continue to build upon this sacred relationship between India and Guyana. The massive projected transformation of Guyana in the next decade will surely have India as a strategic partner and we wish to strengthen our partnership. We wish and pray for Guyana’s success. I call upon all brothers and sisters of Guyana to take an oath to join hands and work for the growth and progress of this rainbow nation of Guyana.

9. On a parting note, India will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day Anniversary on 15th August, 2022. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Government of India is organising several events in India and across the globe. High Commission of India in Georgetown is also planning a series of events on this historic occasion in Guyana. We urge all Guyanese to join us in this series of events which will be publicised in due course.

Long live India-Guyana Friendship.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

East Indian Immigration and its significance

By Tota C. Mangar MAY 5, 2021 commemorates the 183rd Anniversary of the arrival of East Indian indentured immigrants in Guyana, the former colony called British Guiana. For over three-quarters of a century [1838-1917] Indian indentured labourers were imported from the sub-continent of India to the West Indian colonies, ostensibly to fill the void created as a result of the mass exodus of ex-slaves from plantation labour following the abolition of the despicable system of slavery and moreso the premature termination of the apprenticeship system in 1838.

This influx into the Caribbean in the post-emancipation period of the 19th and 20th centuries was only one segment of a wider movement of Indian labourers to other parts of the world, including Mauritius, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), Fiji, the Strait Settlements, Natal and other parts of the African continent.

Overall, where the English-speaking Caribbean is concerned substantial numbers of indentured labourers were imported.. Based on statistical evidence our own country, Guyana was the recipient of 238,909 Indian immigrants up to the termination of the system in 1917, Trinidad 143,939, Jamaica 36,412,Grenada 3,033,St Vincent 2,472 , St Lucia 4,354 and St Kitts 337. In addition, the non-English speaking Caribbean also imported Indian indentured labourers. For example, the former French colonies (now overseas departments of France) Martinique received 25,509, Guadeloupe 45,844 and French Guiana 19,276. Neighbouring Suriname, while under Dutch rule, imported a total of 35, 501 immigrants.

Following the abolition of slavery in 1834 and the termination of the apprenticeship system in 1838 a state of fear, uncertainty and gloom was uppermost in the minds of the then British Guianese planters. They were very conscious that a grave labour shortage on the sugar estates would certainly mean economic disaster to themselves and the sugar industry in general. The mass exodus of ex-slaves from the plantations during this crucial stage of ‘crisis, experimentation and change’ merely served to confirm planters’ fear and

uneasiness. This movement was not entirely surprising as several decades of slavery and oppression had resulted in the plantation being seen as a symbol of dehumanization, degradation and demoralization and the victims quite naturally wanted to rid themselves of white planter class social,cultural and political domination and to assert their economic independence. With great enthusiasm and in the face of tremendous odds they started the village movement and peasantry in the immediate post- emancipation era.

THE GLADSTONE EXPERIMENT In the case of Guyana, East Indian immigration had its origin in the ‘Gladstone Experiment’. John Gladstone, the father of liberal British statesman, William Gladstone, was the owner of two West Demerara plantations, Vreed-en Hoop and Vreeden-Stein, at that juncture of the country’s history. As a result of the acute labour problem, Gladstone wrote the Calcutta recruiting firm, Gillanders, Arbuthnot and Company inquiring about the possibility of obtaining immigrants for his two estates. The firm’s prompt reply was that it envisaged no recruiting problems and that Indians were already in service in another British colony, Mauritius.

Subsequently, Gladstone obtained permission for his scheme from both the Colonial Office and the Board of Control of the East India Company. The first batch of Indian indentured labourers arrived in Guyana on board the steamships “Whitby” and “Hesperus” in May 1838 and these first arrivals were on a five -year contract.

This initial experimentation was not confined to Gladstone’s two estates but it involved plantations Highbury and Waterloo in Berbice, Belle View,West Bank Demerara and Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast as well.

The immigration scheme commenced in 1838 with a temporary halt from July1839 to 1845 after which it continued virtually uninterrupted to 1917 during which time 238,909 immigrants landed in Guyana. Of this figure 75,547 returned to the land of their birth while the remainder who survived the system chose to remain here and make this country their homeland.

In the main the system

of Indentureship could be characterised as one of “struggle, sacrifice and resistance” where the Indian immigrants were concerned. The system itself was closely linked to slavery. British historian, Hugh Tinker, who did extensive work on East Indian labour overseas, describes it as a “ New System of Slavery” Anthony Trallope who visited the Caribbean in the 1850s viewed it as” A despotism tempered with sugar”. Chief Justice in the second half of the nineteenth century, Charles Beaumont, aptly describes it as “ a rotten , monstrous system rooted in slavery.” Our late distinguished Guyanese historian, Dr. Walter Rodney, highlighted the harshness of the indentureship system and its “neo-slave nature” Another prominent Guyanese historian, Dr. Basdeo Mangru, argues that slavery and indentureship showed remarkable similarities in terms of control, exploitation and degradation. In any event it is reasonable to conclude that the very nature of the indentureship system that prevailed lent itself to struggle, sacrifice and resistance on the part of the indentured labourers.

INDENTURESHIP From the very inception

the system was plagued with controversy. True enough there were strong ‘push ‘ factors which motivated the people to leave their homeland such as high levels of unemployment, chronic poverty, indebtedness and even famine and at the same time many of the recruits were disposed to respond to promises of better times and what they perceived as ‘greener pastures’.

Even so professional recruiting agents, the ‘arkatis’ in North India and the ‘maistris’’ in South India, resorted to deception and coercion to get supplies. Many were lured by glowing promises and were assured of lucrative employment and becoming rich.

Recruiters exploited their ignorance and simplicity. Some were hood-winked, cajoled and lured to leave their homes under false pretences while some were even kidnapped.

Indeed fraud, deceit and coercion permeated the whole recruiting system between 1838 and 1917.

Against tremendous odds the immigrants struggled for their very survival. Overcrowding of emigrant ships, inadequate food, lack of fresh water, water-borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery and diarrhoea and the long and arduous voyage made life unbearable. In some instances the consequence was a relatively high mortality rate to

as much as 20 percent. Immigrants consoled themselves through singing, drumming and story-telling and of greater significance was the lasting friendship that developed among the ‘jehajis’ or shipmates.

In the colony indentured labourers had to endure the critical period of seasoning or adjusting to their new environment. This itself was no easy task. Even so many found themselves introduced to plantation labour very quickly after their arrival.

On the estates, the indentured labourers experienced the harshness of the system.

It was obvious that the powerful plantocracy had effective control of the immigrant labour force. An important aspect of this control was the contract under which the immigrant was recruited. It stipulated the obligation of the labourer and the employer. whiecWhile this was so very often the labour laws weighed heavily against the indentured labourer.As in the case under the various slave laws, the planter class benefited under the contract laws. One needs to take cognisance of the fact that the implementation of the laws and the period of industrial residence were taking place thousands of miles from

Tota C. Mangar

the labourer’s homeland and in a social and political environment dominated by the employer.

It was not surprising therefore that the laws were easily varied and very often abused by the plantocracy to suit their ‘whims and fancies’. Of added significance was the fact that some Immigration-Agent Generals and the Stipendiary Magistrates themselves tended to side with the planter class. As a result, cases of intimidation, assault and battery were often covered up. Moreover, court trials were subject to abuse and in many instances reduced to a farce as official Interpreters aligned with the plantocracy while the labourers had very little opportunity to SEE PAGE 8A

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GUYANA CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

By Rehana Ahamad

be a good idea for us to find persons who still engage in such intriguing traditions.

I immediately began asking around, but the more I asked, the more disappointed I became. It appeared as though every house in the country had a yard of grass or concrete. This meant that I would never be able to experience standing on a daubed bottom house ever again.

A few weeks would go by and I would be visiting the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo)’s Blairmont Estate, Berbice for a press conference. Of course, the ancient county would be the best place to search for ancient traditions, and so, I resumed my quest to find somebody who still daubs their bottom house.

‘Daubing’ bottom houses, the olden tradition that struggles to live on

MY 10-year-old brother asked me a few months ago, “Didi, if you had a time machine, wey you would want go?” and I couldn’t help but think, ‘back in the good ole days’; not the ones I’d experienced, but the ones that my grandmother and great-grandmother often bragged about; the days of being able to sleep peacefully with their doors and windows open; the ‘days’ of telling ‘jumbie’ stories under the night skies and the days of not just coexisting, but of communities functioning as an extended family; of people from all backgrounds being regarded and loved for just being human, regardless of colour of skin and textures of hair.

For me, the good ole days would also mean being able to play endlessly under somebody’s daubed bottom house, and later falling asleep

A young Perdita of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, continues the tradition of her foreparents

in their ‘bag’ hammock, as scratchy as I remember it to be. Even imagining it has put a smile on my face; I could almost feel the cold mud under my feet; the uneven ground that still felt as

smooth as angora silk.

Then suddenly, my daydream vanishes as I fail to attribute a scent to the image I painted so fascinatingly in my mind. As a person who hoards old perfume bottles, I

am very keen on fragrances.

That is why I never use the same fragrance more than

HAPPY WITH POOP HANDS

mussy two time ah week,” Perdita said. She noted that even though many of the persons in the village no longer ‘daub’, she has found comfort in continuing the tradition taught to her by her parents and grandparents.

“Ah suh, me to; since me bin ah lil gyal me ah do this,” one of Perdita’s relatives interjected.

The tradition of using cow dung in construction and architecture, is a tradition that was brought to Guyana

by East Indian immigrants who first arrived here in May 1838. These indentured labourers lived in ‘logies’, often referred to as mud huts.

After I was done daubing the bottom house, I stood there and took a deep breath.

Sure, it smelled a little like poop, but there was some level of comfort and satisfaction in the smell.

'Aunty Sursattie' showing us how it is done

once, so each scent is almost like a time capsule; the smell of those cucumber mists from Avon takes me back to my high school days, and a whiff of Elizabeth Taylor’s white diamonds reminds me of the warmth of my mother’s hugs.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t remember the smell of an authentically daubed bottom house, and it made me a little agitated. I eventually shirked the thoughts of the ‘good ole days’, but then my Editor-In-Chief, Tajeram Mohabir, got me hooked on a conversation about traditions and customs that seem to have been lost with time.

As fate would have it, he made specific reference to the practice of daubing bottom houses, and thought it would

As it would turn out, the taxi driver’s relatives were just the people I had been looking for. Their humble abode is situated in Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, and they seem to be enjoying a life quite similar to what I imagined the ‘good ole days’ to be. In a brief chat ‘Perdita’, one of the occupants of the home, explained the art of ‘daubing’, and asked whether I wanted to try it.

I jumped at the opportunity and Perdita was kind enough to walk me through the entire process; from acquiring the ‘cow dung’ and making the mixture, to actually assisting her to daub her bottom house.

And truth be told, I had never been happier to have poop on my hands.

“Me does do this one or

AUNTY SURSATTIE’S OUTSIDE KITCHEN Meanwhile, as I proceeded to another assignment at Port Mourant, I was introduced to ‘Aunty Sursattie’, an 85-year-old woman who resides at Guava Bush, a relatively small village along the Corentyne. As my colleague, Adrian Narine and I visited her home, she wasted no more than a minute before offering us some tea, her favourite beverage. We looked on in awe as she proceeded to her ‘outside kitchen’, reaching for the pot of tea that rested comfortably on her fireside.

A neighbour explained SEE PAGE 15A

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GUYANA CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

Guyanese Indians in the diaspora

EVER since Indians arrived in British Guiana in 1838, under an indenture contract labour system, they have been on the move. Specifically, Indians have migrated from India to British Guiana, from British Guiana to India, from the plantations to independent settlements, from rural to urban areas, from Guyana to other Caribbean islands, from Guyana to Europe and North America, and these places back to Guyana on a temporary or permanent basis.

It is certain then that Indian migration to Guyana was not one-dimensional, restricted to the circular migration from India to the Caribbean during indenture. Moreover, Indians do not only constitute a significant population in Guyana. They have formed recognizable overseas branch communities, commonly known as diaspora. I will focus on the Guyanese Indian diaspora in North America.

The movement of Guyanese Indians to North America was driven by economic and political instability.

Indians from all walks of life saw their future outside of Guyana, using the legal immigration procedures and paying thousands of dollars to “backtrackers” to take them to North America.

The backtracking migration continued until the first decade of the twenty-first century. The size of the Guyanese Indian population is around 300,000 in the United States and about 200,000 in Canada. Most of them live in Queens, New York, Toronto, Jersey City, and Florida. It is impossible to cover all aspects of the

Professor Lomarsh Roopnarine

Indian experience in North America, but some patterns are obvious, however. They have done well economically so much so that they have transformed, for example, sections of Queens into “Little Guyana.” Success is also noted in educational achievement. First, but more so, second-generation Guyanese Indians have attended top universities in North America and have high-level jobs in law, medicine, and academia, although they have yet to make significant inroads into the political system in which they live, save for a few. The Guyanese Indian diaspora has contributed significantly to Guyana by way of remittances, which are not recorded by ethnicity. Remittances account for 20 percent of Guyana’s gross domestic product and continue to play an important role as a source of foreign exchange, reducing poverty as well as providing for household costs such as electricity, education, and health bills

Guyanese celebrating Phagwah in New York (Guyaneseonline.net)

There is absolutely no doubt that there is a distinctive Guyanese Indian culture in North America. How they have been able to retain their culture and customs in North America amid some changes in their social structure is remarkable when considering no government-initiated integration policies exist in North America. The continuous contact and cultural exchange through air travel and the Internet between the sending and receiving enclaves have allowed Guyanese Indians to retain their culture in North America.

Likewise, bouts of discrimination and exclusion and the experience of being labelled as something other than their own Indian ethnicity in the host society have pushed them into restoring and retaining their own culture.

What is most noticeable among them is that the longer they stay in North America the more aware of their position and treatment in the host society they become.

They have been progressive-

ly active in asserting their new space.

Guyanese Indians have shown an enormous desire to preserve their culture around the elastic form of Caribbean Hinduism. They have built temples in North America or have joined already established mosques, which can be described as their nerve center. The mantra appears to be that wherever and whenever there is a sizable population of Caribbean Indians, there are temples.

This desire is not restricted to New York and Toronto, which have large populations of Indians, but Indian temples can be seen in Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, and Schenectady. These temples provide the basis for the reconstruction and retention of Guyanese Indian culture in North America. This is where various festivals are planned and practised and then taken to the wider com-

munity. Thousands generally attend the yearly festivals of Phagwah, or Holi, and Diwali as well as chowtal singings in Queens, New York, as they do in Guyana.

Guyana Indian culture is not only restricted to religion but is also expressed in the streets, such as on Liberty Avenue in Queens where Indian businesses excel sari stores, roti shops, bakeries, restaurants, Guyanese fish, and vegetable markets, as well as yearly regional and village reunions.

In sum, Guyanese Indians will continue to migrate because of inequities in the global system as well as political, economic, and social instabilities and tensions within Guyana.

Migration will also continue because a culture of migration has now formed in that to grow and develop one must migrate. Half of the Indian population in

Guyana lives outside of Guyana. Sentiments of and remittances to homeland will continue as well as the perception that Indians are better off in developed countries than in Guyana, despite the racism, marginalisation, loneliness, loss of culture, and unfavorable climate in developed countries. Nevertheless, a noticeable Guyanese has now been formed, and meaningful connection, communication, and collaboration will continue between the departed and new homeland to deal with nostalgia, to maintain family bonds, to escape the pressure-cooking lifestyle of North America, and to promote growth and development in Guyana. The Guyanese Indian diaspora in North America are here to stay. They are also Guyanese. A happy Indian Arrival Day.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

Small in numbers but big in business

By Tamika Garnett

THOUGH Portuguese-Guyanese represent less than one per cent of Guyana’s population, their contributions to the Guyanese economy is well felt, particularly in the area of business where they have a well-established reputation as adept entrepreneurs.

Businesses like Banks DIH Limited started by Peter D’Aguiar and John Fernandes Limited (JFL) started

by John Fernandes are just a few of the remaining businesses that are remnants of a time when Portuguese dom-

inated Guyana’s business sector.

Houston Estates which was owned by the Veiras, as well as businesses owned by the Alphonso family are also some of the well-known Portuguese family businesses that come to mind whenever one thinks about what remains of the glory days of Portuguese businesses in Guyana.

When Portuguese left the indentureship life of the plantation, many turned to huckster and retail trade, with particular involvement in rum production and sales.

The end of the 1860s

and the 1870s saw the Portuguese well entrenched in business, Portuguese Guyanese historian Noel Menezes noted in one of her news articles. However, the business landscape of today is starkly different, with the few remaining Portuguese-Guyanese managed and owned businesses in Guyana. It represents a shadow of the predominance that Portuguese-Guyanese once held in Guyana.

“The Portuguese who were vibrant in the 1940s and 50s are all overseas. The number of Portuguese businesses that remain vibrant

today you can’t count past 10,” explained Christopher “Chris” Fernandes.

Chris is the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of JFL and son of John Fernandes.

The Portuguese population, and, by extension, businesses, declined in the 1960s and 70s when Guyana saw mass migration.

While the migration affected all the ethnic groups in the country at the time, the brunt of the effect was borne by those ethnicities that were smallest in numbers, the Portuguese-Guyanese being among them.

“This [migration] was not a Portuguese thing, it was generally [all ethnicities]. It’s just that the other ethnicities were so many that they were ok when they lost a couple thousand each. But when a couple thousand Chinese or Portuguese left it was a lot of people percentage wise,” Chris explained.

Though Portuguese-Guyanese numbered approximately 30,000 at their peak,

this has since considerably declined. In the 2012 census Portuguese in Guyana number less than 2000 persons.

JFL remains a thriving business in Guyana today due to the sheer determination and patriotism of Chris’ father.

“My father was committed to Guyana and he always thought there was a future for Guyanese in their homeland,” he said, noting that at times people would even question why his father chose to stay when so many were leaving.

“It was easy to get into Canada, the States, England and some people even went to the Caribbean, because at the time the future in Guyana did not look bright. But my father always believed that Guyana had a prosperous future. A lot of the Portuguese families and business persons were leaving for greener pastures, supposedly, but my old man said I’m going to stay here and one day we are going to prosper,” Chris told the Guyana Chronicle.

The business, which started as just a shipping business, has since expanded significantly and today is involved in livestock, rice, distribution and more recently, oil and gas support service.

According to Chris, two key secrets to the success of the business was keeping it as a family business and placing high emphasis on employee welfare.

“We’ve been able to educate our family members, locally and when necessary overseas and been able to encourage them to come back and serve our company and by extension the country so that we have a large percentage of our management made up of family members. Not that we don’t have others, we have a number of competent individuals,” Chris related.

On employee welfare, he said “We try to consider our employees to be special and we treat them special.

We think employees are our asset and their welfare is important to us.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

ARRIVAL DAY MESSAGE 2021 People’s Progressive Party/Civic

A message from the PPP on the occasion of Arrival Day 2021 Arrival Day, designated a national holiday on May 5, is of tremendous significance to our country and all of its people.

It’s a day that brings into focus the invaluable contributions of our ancestors who came to the shores of our dear land from various parts of the world. It is also a day to commemorate their arrival and monumental achievements.

Once again, as we observe this occasion, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to extend greetings to all Guyanese, home and abroad. As we commemorate this day, all Guyanese are urged to reflect on the many sacrifices our fore parents made to advance our country and better our lives.

We are urged to recognise that the sacrifices of all our ancestors will be in vain, if those who would divide us are allowed to succeed. After their gruelling journeys at various point in our history to arrive here and in spite of the hardships they faced, they were selfless in their efforts to not just build for our betterment, but remained steadfast in ensuring the preservation of the various cultural traditions, which continue to instill values, enrich and shape our lives.

Those deliberate efforts have led to the creation of this multi-cultural and multi-religious society of ours, in where there is immense pride in diversity imbuing us all with strength as we share and participate in the various festivals that have come to identify us as a people.

Over time, those events have served to strengthen bonds of togetherness among our people. The sacrifices and achievements of our fore parents will remain a source of inspiration for our collective efforts to build a prosperous and unified nation that is home to all of us.

Over the decades, activities to commemorate Arrival Day were held across the country providing opportunities for

Ethnic Relations Commission THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) extends best wishes to all Guyanese on the observance of Arrival Day 2021. A day which commemorates the historical arrival of numerous indentured servants of diverse ethnic heritages to Guyana, to replace slave labour on the sugar plantations after the abolition of slavery in the British Empire.

On this occasion, the ERC wishes to take the opportunity to reiterate the need for all Guyanese to build together upon their gains and to continue robustly the process of fostering unity and harmony.

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.

Our hodgepodge of multiculturalism was as a result of the untold sacrifices, desires and steadfastness of our ancestors, to practice and preserve their rich and colourful cultural traditions, having come to this land from different parts of the world at different times in our history.

In doing so individually through the various ethnic groups, sharing and participation in each other’s traditions, forged our dear nation to become multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural. That is evident as all participate meaningfully SEE PAGE 13A

Guyanese and visitors to interact and experience our rich and diverse cultural traditions.

At this juncture, those customary, vibrant and colourful celebrations associated with this day, have been curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are all reminded to observe the related protocols, to be safe and, for those eligible, to get vaccinated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

East Indian Immigration ... defend themselves.

tended to include the period spent in jail. What this effectively meant was that the immigrant was actually punished twice for the same offence. Convictions of immigrants were inordinately high. Charges could be made on mere orders of managers and even for trivialities. In 1863, for example, of the 4,936 prisoners who ended up in the Georgetown jail, 3,148 were indentured labourers. Further,The ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE IMMIGRATION AGENT

the labourer to indignity at the hands of colonial police who were empowered to apprehend him without a ‘pass’. Managers used it as an effective control device and also as a means of preventing the workers from making comparison of wage rates at different estates. The fear was that such knowledge could easily lead to discontent and desertion.

It was because of their powers of control over the indentured labourers that planters became increasingly

in July1869. The shovel gang complained that wages were LABOUR WOES withheld because they could not complete a job on waThroughout the period terlogged soil. They also deof indentureship, immigrants manded pay to do the job but were faced with meagre were faced with a “ harsh and wage rates and unrealistic unyielding management “’ task work. Weekly earnings and in particular the hostile depended on the number of attitude of Deputy Manager, tasks, the nature of the tasks, Richard Manson. A confronwhether it was weeding, matation between armed police nuring, planting or harvesting and the labourers was narrowand the speed with which they ly avoided but the ringleaders were completed. In any event, were arrested,convicted and it was the employer who inincarcerated at the penal setvariably determined the wage tlement, Mazaruni. Not long rates and whenever after there were strikes there was a fall in at Plantation Farm, Masugar prices, immihaicony and at Chagrants found their teau Margot on the East wages minimised.

Coast of Demerara. The One immigrafollowing year violence tion agent was baferupted at Plantations fled to know how Hague, Uitvlugt, Mon immigrants at PlanRepos, Non Pariel, Zeetation Bel Air exlugt, Vergenoegen and isted due to “insufSuccess. ficient earnings to Another major dissupport life”, Colturbance took place jar, a spokesman at Plantation Devonfor immigrants shire Castle in 1872. in the 1890s was The root causes of this quoted as saying strike and protest in“ Times are very Indians, by dint of much hard work and thrift, saved and emerged cluded widespread dishard. We cannot out of the abyss of misery to carve a new and prosperous destiny satisfaction with the live on the wages for their descendants allocation of tasks, poor we are getting, our prices offered, long stomachs are not being filled”. GENERALS FOR 1874-1894 arrogant. Some repeated- working hours, the frequenIndentured labourers ex- showed an alarmingly high ly and openly declared that cy of unilateral pay deducperienced a continuous prob- figure of 65,084 convictions the labourers on their estates tions from wages and general lem surrounding the Muster for breaches of the labour should only be “at work, or ill-treatment and abuse of laRoll. This muster roll was contracts. This again reinforc- in hospital or in gaol “ during bourers. This time there was held every morning. Non-at- es the fact that the indentured working hours. Such was their a confrontation with colonial tendance meant a penalty of labourer was far from docile. attitude. One Demerara plant- police who opened fire and a fine which was arbitrarily He was struggling, sacri- er publicly and arrogantly five labourers lost their lives deducted from their wages. ficing and resisting.. These boasted, “give me my heart’s while several were seriously At the same time the pressure numerous instances of cases desire in Coolies and I will injured. Those killed are of getting into the fields and under the labour contract make you a million hogsheads today regarded as our first inmissing the muster roll was were ample proof of his rest- of sugar”. dentured martyrs. very great. By doing so the lessness and non-compliance Riots and disturbances labourer stood a better chance with a harsh and oppressive RESISTANCE continued with regularity of completing his demanding system. Throughout the periIt was not surprising in the 1890s and in the eartasks. On the other hand, if he od of indentureship the inden- therefore that from the 1860’s ly years of the twentieth cenattended the muster roll and tured labourers suffered from onwards the myth of Indian tury. Only a mere four years failed to complete the day’s a paucity of social amenities. docility was to be seriously before the eventual termitask the end result was the The tenement ranges or logies challenged. Indian indentured nation of the scheme fifteen same arbitrary reduction of were small and unventilated, labourers began to openly labourers lost their lives at wages. In effect the labourer potable water was virtually defy the system. As a con- Plantation Rose Hall during a had little choice. One way or non-existent, medical facili- sequence, there was a steady strike and disturbance. the other he was penalised. ties and sanitation were poor. deterioration of industrial Indeed, towards the end The Indian immigrant As a consequence outbreaks relations, increasing working of the indentureship sysoften went before the courts of diseases tended to assume class protests and imperial tem labour protests had asas victims of the labour laws epidemic proportions. investigation. Struggle, sac- sumed various forms includand the legal system in genrifice and resistance were to ing work stoppages, mass eral. Under the law there RESTRICTION ON be manifested in numerous picketing, marching towards were several instruments of MOVEMENT labour unrests. the Immigration Department, prosecution available to the Through vagrancy laws Violent eruptions were assaults on managers and planter. He could prosecute a immigrants had their move- occasioned by many specific overseers,violent demonstralabourer for refusing to com- ments restricted. This was an and localised grievances such tions coupled with passive mence work or leaving work integral part of the planter’s as overbearing behaviour of resistance such as feigning unfinished, absenteeism with- strategy. Laws were designed managers, wage rate disputes, illness, malingering and deout authority, disorderly or to localise labour and to place disagreement over tasks, sex- liberately performing poor threatening behaviour or even arbitrary restraints on the ual exploitation of women by work. neglect . Punishment resulted workers’ liberty. The labourer overseers and arbitrary deducin fines or imprisonment. had to get a ‘pass’ signed by tion of wages of labourers.

SIGNIFICANCE .Moreover an immigrant the estate manager once he The first such disturbance imprisoned for misconduct left his estate of residence. took place at Plantation LeIndian indentured labourcould have his indenture ex- This ‘pass’ system exposed onora, West Coast Demerara ers and their descendants

FROM PAGE 3A

toiled and are toiling unceasingly to ensure the survival of the sugar industry in the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The vast majority of the workforce in the sugar industry are Indo-Guyanese and sugar remains an important foreign exchange earner in the face of recent contraction and grave global challenges including European sugar reforms. Guyanese of Indian origin are largely responsible for the prominence of Guyana’s rice industry.

Indian indentured labourers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries began to cultivate rice on a large scale and this was linked to the almost exclusive Indian village settlements which emerged at the time. They were integrally involved in cattle rearing, milk selling and cash crop cultivation.

Ever since the 1880s Indian immigrants and their descendants have displayed a high occupational profile in a number of off-plantation economic activities including cart-men, barbers, tailors carpenters, boat-builders, charcoal makers, sieve-makers, goldsmiths, porters, small scale manufacturers and fishermen..

Their descendants have made, and continue to make tremendous strides in the social, economic, cultural, educational, political and trade union fields. Many of them are today leading sports personalities, entrepreneurs, educationists, professionals, politicians and trade unionists in their own right. The late President and Father of the Nation, Dr Cheddi Jagan was himself the son of indentured labourers who found themselves in the bond yard of Plantation Port Mourant..

To assume the highest office in Guyana was no mean feat by this extraordinarily gifted man. Former Presidents, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramoutar and current President, His Excellency, Dr. Irfaan AIi are proud descendants of indentured labourers. Indeed descendants of immigrants are actively engaged in every facet of life in Guyanese society of today.

Indian immigrants and their descendants have ensured there is a rich cultural heritage in this multi-cultural and pluralistic society of ours. Indian customs, values and traditions have survived over the years. They brought with them their main reli-

gions, Hinduism and Islam.

Approximately 83% of the immigrants were Hindus while 14% were Muslims and the remainder Christians.

Mosques and Temples began to dot our coastal landscape from the late nineteenth century.. Related to this was the introduction of languages, Hindi and Arabic and several other Indian dialects. The Ramayan, Bhagwat Gita and the Holy Quoran are prized holy books in many households today. A significant contribution is in the area of dress.

Traditional Indian wear such as shalwar, sari, kurta and dhoti are sometimes worn and some of these take on nationalistic flavour. The Indian ritual marriage form and the extended family system have continued, over time, with only minor changes. Indian music, songs, films, dance and other art forms have taken root in Guyanese society..

Indian foods like roti, curry, dhal, polouri, bara, keer and vegetable dishes are regularly consumed by all Guyanese.

Indian festivals are widely celebrated. These include the colourful Phagwah, Deepavali (festival of lights),Ramnoumi, Shiv Ratri, Youman Nabi, Eid-ul-Azha, and Eid-ul-Fitr.

Four of the above are national holidays, a testimony to their significance. Hindus and Muslims regularly perform their religious or thanksgiving ceremonies. Evidence of this development among Hindus is reflected in the numerous Jhandi and other flags which are proudly displayed in devotees’ yards and homes respectively.

Indian immigrants and their descendants were able to survive, largely due to their resilience, determination, custom, tradition and commitment to family which invariably promote thrift, industry and self-esteem. They continue to make valuable contributions to the overall progress and development of Guyana. Their strong cultural ties are undoubtedly a motivating factor as they march forward with a great sense of purpose and maturity.. After all, Guyana relentlessly seeks to have greater economic benefits, socio-political stability and national cohesiveness at this juncture of its history and in the face of the current global pandemic.

A Happy 183rd anniversary of Indian Arrival in Guyana to one and all.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

Chinese in Guyana A History of the Chinese Indentured Labourers

EVEN though the planters in Guyana had expressed enterprise. At first, this interest in introducing Chinese labourers since Emanciwas not supported by the pation, it was not until 1851 that such recruitment first British Government, but began. eventually in 1857 perBecause of the long travel distance from China, at first mission was granted for Chinese were not recruited since it was cheaper to transport recruitment for a oneIndians. While it cost a planter 13 British pounds to transport year period. Towards the an Indian labourer from Calcutta or Madras, the cost was end of 1858 two ships 15 pounds to transport a Chinese immigrant from any of the overloaded with 761 Chinese ports. But because of the growing need for labourers passengers, collected for the sugar estates, some planters decided to recruit Chifrom “baracoons”, left nese especially during the period between 1848 and 1851 Hong Kong for Georgewhen Indian immigration was suspended. town arriving in March In August 1851, the British Guiana Government agreed and May 1859 respecto pay the planters a bounty of $100 for each Chinese landed tively. On these two in the Colony. The following month George Booker, one of ships 60 persons died on the sugar estate owners, arranged for the first shipment of the long voyage.

Chinese to work as indentured labourers. The 115 men and In 1858 the authori39 boys who were recruited were transported from the port ties in the Chinese provof Amoy on the Lord Elgin. The ship departed on July 23, inces of Kwangtung and 1852 and after a journey of 177 days arrived in Georgetown Kwangsi (served by the on January 17, 1853. On this difficult voyage 69 of the pascity of Canton) began Arthur Raymond Chung sengers died. to encourage people to Another ship, the Glentanner, chartered by Hyde, Hodge migrate, and this enabled & Co, left Amoy with 305 men and boys and arrived in the recruiting agents to finally contract females who were Georgetown on January 12, 1853. A total of 51 passengers part of entire families. On December 24, 1859 the Whirldied on the journey. The same Company recruited another wind sailed from Hong Kong with 304 men, 56 women, 7 352 men and boys later in the year and they were shipped boys (under the age of 15 years) and 4 girls (under 13 years of from Amoy on the Samuel Boddington on November 25, 1852 age). The voyage lasted 78 days and not a single life was lost. and arrived in Georgetown on March 4, 1853, after a voyage During 1859-60 five more ships left Hong Kong and Canwhich lasted only 98 days during which 52 passengers died. ton for Guyana where 1549 men, 298 women, 53 boys, 26 (On this journey, the Chinese mutinied and almost managed girls and 18 infants landed. to take control of the ship).

In succeeding years ships continued to sail from the ports Most of the Chinese who arrived during this period were of Hong Kong, Canton, Amoy, Swatow, and Whampoa with assigned to estates in West Demerara.

Chinese immigrants who included a disproportionate amount The British Guiana Government expressed concerns about of women. The Dartmouth which made the final voyage, the physical quality of the Chinese who were recruited and sponsored by Hyde, Hodge & Co., started from Hong Kong on also about the large number of boys who were apparently December 24, 1878 and after 81 days arrived in Georgetown passed off as adults. Subsequently, the Government withdrew with 515 passengers (436 men, 47 women, 18 boys, 5 girls the bounty payment to the recruiting planters on August 1, and 9 infants). In this group were about 70 Christian converts.

1853.

For the entire period of 1853 to 1879, a total of 13,541 Earlier that year, James White, who had been the recruit- Chinese landed in Guyana. ing agent for the British Guiana Government in India, was (Retrieve from http://www.guyana.org/features/guyanasappointed as Emigration Agent for the British West Indies in tory/chapter55.html) China. However, he was dismissed in June of the following The Chinese on the Plantations year mainly because he failed to recruit any Chinese labourer.

On arrival in Guyana, the Chinese immigrants agreed to In 1853 also, the British Government had decided to the following terms of employment: support a government-sponsored recruitment programme, 1. Payment was at the same rate as an indentured labourer but by May 1854 the British Guiana Government decided to - $4 a month - with sufficient food. halt immigration from China due to the transportation costs 2. The working period would be seven and a half hours per which had increased by over 66 percent and also because of day, except Sundays and holidays. the failure to recruit women.

3. Free housing and medicines would be provided by the Resulting from the absence of Chinese women among the estate owner. immigrants, many of the men established conjugal relations 4. One dollar per month would be deducted from the wages with African women. The “mixed” children born out of these for monetary advances made in China. unions were referred to as “Chinee-duglas”.

5. Every immigrant could terminate his contract at the The Chinese proved to be good workers on the estates end of a year, on payment, for each unexpired year of the to which they were indentured for a five-year period. Sub- contract, of a sum equal to one-fifth of the amount of the sequently, the planters influenced the Governor (Philip Wo- passage money. dehouse) to appeal to the British Government on their behalf 6. Every female Chinese immigrant was required to live to allow the transport of Chinese to Guyana through private on the same estate with her husband, or with her father if she was single, and would not work unless she agreed.

These terms were discussed with the Chinese immigrants Population of Chinese in British Guiana who signed agreements with the recruiting agents in China Year Males Females Total China born before they departed for Guyana.

The first batch of Chinese were assigned to Plantation 1853 811 0 811 811 Blankenberg, West Coast Demerara, and to other estates 1861 5735 844 6579 6579 on the West Bank Demerara. Those who arrived later were 1866 8300 1700 10022 9800 distributed to other estates, including to a few in Berbice 1871 5400 1500 6880 6295 and Essequibo.

1881 3905 1329 5232 4393 Working conditions were relatively good on most of the estates, but some Chinese labourers complained from time 1891 2583 1131 3714 2475 to time of ill-treatment.

1901 1700 1100 2840 1300 The Chinese came from many regions and they spoke 1911 1481 1141 2622 634 different dialects.

1921 1500 1200 2722 376

Robert Victor Evan Wong

They also had varying skills and religious beliefs. Many of them were social outcasts picked up from the streets while others emigrated to escape misery and war. But they were concerned about maintaining their language and forms of their culture, and some of them, who had a relatively good level of education, organised night schools on the sugar plantations to teach the boys writing and singing.

A labourer who completed his contract was offered the option of renewing it, or a sum of $50 as a partial payment for a return passage to China. Very few Chinese opted to leave Guyana, but those who did so travelled on the ships that transported back to India those Indians who decided to leave Guyana on the completion of their indenture. Those Chinese who left were not only agriculturalists; some of them had worked as doctors.

There were also some Chinese immigrants who were not interested in working as sugar cane farmers because they felt the pace of work was too demanding. In May 1860 several of them left their estate (near to Georgetown) and marched to the city to protest their working conditions to James Crosby, the Immigration Agent General. At La Penitence they were stopped by mounted police who beat them with their staffs and forced them to turn back.

Those who did not want to work on the plantations had the options of buying their way out of their contract, escaping from the estates, or committing suicide. The first option was expensive since the labourers were earning only $4 a month.

There were many cases of Chinese who escaped from the estates. Many of them managed to reach Charlestown which was becoming the local “Chinatown”, but they were eventually caught and imprisoned for 30 days and returned to their places of work from where they usually escaped again.

There was also an unusually high rate of suicides among Chinese men but it could not be determined if a dislike of plantation work was the cause.

The immigrants’ traditional food, rice, was imported but it was very expensive. Plantains soon became a chief source of food. There were many incidents of Chinese labourers stealing plantains from farms owned by Portuguese and Africans, and those who were caught were brought before the court and SEE PAGE 16A

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GUYANA CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

The Portuguese in sports

By Tamica Garnett

W

HEN it comes to the contributions of Portuguese-Guyanese to Guyana’s culture, aside from their aptitude for business, they are well known for producing prolific sportsmen and women, whose contributions are well ingrained in the fabric of Guyana’s sports landscape.

Their contributions span a wide range of sporting disciplines, including but not limited to boxing, cricket, cycling, rugby, football, tennis, hockey, racing, rowing, and swimming.

The Vieira family of motor-racing fame, the Fernandes family in squash and hockey, and the Roberts brothers in swimming, are just a few of the examples of how Guyanese

of Portuguese extract have contributed to sports in Guyana in many respects across the decades.

Notwithstanding their drastically dwindling numbers since their arrival in Guyana in 1834, Portuguese-Guyanese have been able to maintain a striking influence in sports by sustaining a high level of enthusiasm across generations.

The Fernandes family is one of the first examples that come to mind.

Third-generation Portuguese-Guyanese, John Fernandes, founder of John Fernandes Limited, was an ardent sports enthusiast, who has left Guyana with a legacy of a family line littered with adept sportsmen and women across a number of sports disciplines.

His influence includes his son Christopher “Chris” Fernandes, a former national hockey and football player, and

Niall Roberts, former Guyanese national swimmer and record holder

his younger brother, Robert “Bobby” Fernandes, a former national footballer. His granddaughter and Bobby’s daughter, Nicolette Fernandes, remains Guyana’s most successful professional squash player.

“My father was a very sports-minded individual. He supported our sports interest very much; he would rather buy you a pair of football boots than buy you a nice pair of pants,” Chris joked.

Chris is also a former Secretary and President of the Guyana Hockey Board. As a football player, he was captain of the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) for six years, and regularly captained the Georgetown Team in the inter-district competitions.

Though mostly known for his involvement in hockey and football, Chris said he played other sports as well.

“In school, I played everything. In 1961, St. Stanislaus College sent teams to play in Trinidad in football, cricket, basketball, and athletics against the Mt. St. Benedict College.

Of the 20 persons that went, I was the only one who was on all four teams,” he recalled.

The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of John Fernandes Limited, Chris was one of his father’s 14 children, and just naturally stepped into a life of sports, due to his father’s enthusiasm and influence.

“I was number five among the boys, and my brothers before me were all into sports. So I was a sports fanatic. I’m still a sports fanatic, but physically, I can’t any longer involve myself in sports,” the 76-year-old said.

UPHOLDING THE LEGACY Nonetheless, Chris has already ensured that the sports-loving legacy continues in the family by introducing his children to sports.

“From the time they could walk, they had little hockey sticks in their hands, or a football at their feet. We would play football and cricket in the yard, whichever was in season.

When is cricket season, everybody would be playing a little cricket,” he said.

SEE PAGE 11A

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GUYANA CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

Caribbean motor-racing champion, Mark Vieira Nicolette Fernandes, Guyana’s most accomplished professional squash player

The Portuguese in ...

FROM PAGE 10A

Today, his son, David Fernandes, currently heads the Guyana Squash Association (GSA), while another of his sons, Phillip Fernandes, is President of the Guyana Hockey Board.

Their brothers Alan and Stephen also played hockey at the international level.

Several of Robert’s children also continued the family’s tradition of involvement in sports. His daughter, Nicolette’s professional career spanned 15 years on the international stage, during which time she earned a career high ranking of 19 from the Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA). She is also a three- time junior and six-time senior Caribbean champion, and won the 2009 National Sportswoman of the Year award.

Robert’s other daughter, Chantelle Fernandes, was involved in both squash and hockey. She is a former Caribbean junior squash champion, and later served as national captain for the female hockey team.

Their brother, Robert Fernandes, also played both sports, and currently serves as the men’s national hockey coach, while Shad Fernandes followed in the footsteps of his father, and was also a former national footballer.

As with the Fernandes family, Caribbean motor racing champion, Mark Vieira also credits his family with passing down to him their love for the sport.

“My immediate family at the time were big into motorcycling since the 1950s. It was just a monkey-see-monkey-do thing, so, because they did it and I was exposed to it, it just became natural for me,” Vieira said.

PASSED THE TORCH The veteran motor racer has already passed the torch on to his son, Matthew, who is also a former Caribbean champion in motorbike racing. Mark’s brother, Paul, and cousin, Stephen, are also well known for their legacy of representing Guyana well as motor racers.

Mark said his involvement stemmed from watching his father, Joseph “Joe” Vieira, who was the son of Joseph Vieira, former Executive Chairman of Houston Estates. Mark recalled motor racing emerging in Guyana as a promotional tactic by auto dealers, and then catching on.

“What had happened at the time, we would have the motorcycle dealers, and they wanted to sell their bikes. So what they did is, they created racing. They copied from the English; so they raced on Sunday, and sold bikes on Monday. That’s how it came about,” he noted.

In swimming, brothers Niall and Yannick Roberts have left their mark. Both represented Guyana at a number of international events, with Niall still being holder of Guyana’s national record for the 50m butterfly.

An Olympian, Niall represented Guyana at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, as well as at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona. Roberts said he is looking forward to passing on a love for swimming to his daughter.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

A tangible connection to the ‘motherland’

By Vishani Ragobeer

I

N 1838, the first group of East Indian indentured servants arrived in British Guiana, after sailing across the kala pani (black waters). They were travelling to what was termed the “New World”. Though the reality that confronted them was, perhaps, vastly different from the allure of a “better life”, those indentured Indians left the motherland and made this country their homeland.

It has been 183 years since the Colonial Office granted five-year contracts to John Gladstone, the owner of Plantations Vreed-en-Hoop and Vried-en-Stein, enabling him to introduce Indian labour.

Historical accounts detail that Gladstone embellished plantation life in his bid to attract those Indian labourers.

A total of 414 Indian immigrants made the inaugural journey to British Guiana, travelling aboard the MV Whitby and Hesperus. Unfortunately, 18 died in transit. They arrived here and were met with less-than-optimal conditions, which historians have deemed just marginally more palatable than enslavement. Still, more than half of the Indian population remained in Guyana at the end of their contracts, making the best that they could on the homeland.

Arrival Day reminds Guyanese of the people who came

to this geographic space, bringing their distinctive culture and heritage, and making it the multicultural society it is today.

The observance of the day in itself pays homage to where people have come from and it is not difficult to imagine (though not empirically proven) that those who came have a longing or at least a mental connection whence they came.

That connection was recognised by India, the motherland of the East Indians brought to British Guiana and their descendants. As such, in 2005, the Overseas Citizenship of India Scheme was inaugurated.

“It is not citizenship for India, but it is a life-long visa given to Indian origin people who can trace their ancestry up to the fourth generation,” High Commissioner of India to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, explained at a recent forum.

This scheme would not give someone of Indian origin

the right to vote or hold public office, but, the High Commissioner explained that it does permit land purchase and ownership, investment in India and the ability to have one’s children study in India.

“It has wide advantages for any Indian origin diaspora around the world,” Dr. Srinivasa posited.

With documentation existing in the Walter Rodney National Archives, an Indo-Guyanese is able to trace his/ her ancestry and explore whether he/she qualifies under this scheme. Of course, since the programme only covers up to a fourth generation descendant, it is not all encompassing.

“I am actually working on a project right now to get more eligibility for Indian diaspora people in Guyana because many of them who have traced their ancestry are fifth, sixth and seventh generation... which is currently not permitted,” the High Commissioner said.

“I’m working on that aspect to permit more people in the Indian diaspora to get advantage of this particular scheme.”

Of course, it is no replacement for the efforts crucial to nation-building. Effectively, however, this scheme allows for a tangible connection to motherland, the place where Indian foreparents were brought from and the place where much of the Indian culture known today originates.

GUYANA CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

ARRIVAL DAY MESSAGE 2021 Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union

AS our country once again observes Arrival Day, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) takes the opportunity to extend greetings and best wishes to the people of Guyana. The observances always serve to remind us of the rich diversity and the unique multi-cultural composition of our nation.

Indeed, it adds to the specialness of Guyana that people of different backgrounds can co-exist in harmony and unity as they all seek to improve their lives, a goal linked to building our country which will surely augur well for the future generations.

While Arrival Day – May 05 – though largely associated with the arrival of East Indians, the day reminds us of all indentured immigrants brought to our land. Our research advises us that outside of the East Indians, the Madeiran Portuguese came in May 1835, the Chinese in 1853, as well as a few other ethnicities during that phase of colonialism. We are aware that the colonialists brought also labourers from Malta, Ireland, Germany and England.

Arrival Day also reminds us of the reasons for the indentureship system. The then immigrants who replaced the emancipated slaves were made to toil in the fields of the sugar plantations to enrich the foreign owners of the plantations. Indentured labourers and their families were forced to exist in inhumane and atrocious conditions. And, like their compatriots, they were forced to engage in several struggles, which gave us several martyrs, to bring about small improvements and meagre benefits in their lives and work conditions.

Today as we celebrate Arrival Day, the GAWU cannot fail to observe that the industry that occasioned our diversity is being revitalised. Our union recognises that the industry remains critical to the sustenance and well-being of thousands of Guyanese. The efforts to push the industry into obscurity by the past regime is well documented and the hardship it created is well-known. We are encouraged by the actions and utterances of the new government which has demonstrated its commitment. Sugar, we reiterate, has all possibilities of success but, among other things, requires the active and material support and confidence of the powers-that-be.

As we celebrate Arrival Day, the GAWU urges all Guyanese to spare a moment to reflect on how far as a people we have come, the challenges we overcame, and the successes we have recorded. At this time, when we ought to look to be reach new and higher plateaus, we see concerted efforts that will very likely reverse much of the progress we have made and rightly can take pride in. Let us resist such efforts and get back on the development track.

GAWU joins with all Guyana to celebrate Arrival Day.

Ethnic Relations...

FROM PAGE 7A in each other’s festivities which have transcended religious and ethnic boundaries to become truly national observances.

Over time, that rich, beautiful and vibrant diversity has become our strength and the common bond in the process of becoming one people, working towards a common destiny. While there have been challenges along the way, our Guyanese brothers and sisters have always found ways to foster togetherness through tolerance and respect. Herein lies the desire of all of our people for harmony and unity to be strengthened and for it to continue to prevail

across this land that is home to all.

This is imperative in the interest of our nation and all its peoples so that our diversity must never be made a tool for division but one that will continue to reflect our strength and bonds of togetherness. May 5th also marks the anniversary of the arrival of our East Indian ancestors who reached these shores on that day in 1838 while on May 3, the arrival of the Portuguese was observed.

The colourful commemorative events across the country will once again serve to bring our people together, allowing opportunities to not

only participate, but for the continuation of that important process of educating for a better understanding and appreciation of our cultural traditions. This builds tolerance which is the bedrock of harmony and unity as we strive for one people out of many cultures.

As Guyanese record another milestone amidst the difficult and threatening COVID-19 crisis, the ERC nevertheless emphasises the importance of continuing to observe all the necessary precautions and regulations.

Happy Arrival Day to all Guyanese here and in the diaspora from the Management and Staff of the Ethnic Relations Commission!

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People’s National Congress

THE People’s National Congress extends greetings to all Guyanese, especially those of East Indian origin, on the occasion of Arrival Day as our nation observes the 183rd anniversary of the arrival the first East Indian immigrants.

Arrival Day, observed as a national holiday annually on 5th May, celebrates one of the most significant events in Guyana’s history. Our nation’s multi-cultural diversity which was shaped by the ‘arrivals’ who came during the colonial era, is an asset that enriched our common experience.

Arrival Day not only gives persons of Indian origin an opportunity to reflect on the journey of their ancestors but also, it provides an opportunity for people of other origins to reflect on the journey and history of their own ancestors. It is important for us to examine our origins so that we could understand better the impact of our collective efforts in building our nation and appreciate the need to respect each other.

Arrival Day reminds us that our nation is richer today because of the invaluable contributions which the descendants of all immigrants have made to our national development and to shaping our Guyaneseness – the unique tapestry of beliefs, cultures and traditions.

The People’s National Congress wishes everyone a happy Arrival Day.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

The Forgotten People —the African indentured labourers and the immigration scheme

By Mesha Sealey FOR many years, it has been well known throughout Guyana and some parts of the Caribbean, that the East Indians, Chinese and Portuguese came to Guyana as indentured labourers, after the abolition of slavery in 1834.

What many remain unaware of, however, is the fact that there were African indentured labourers who toiled on the sugar plantations after slavery was abolished. In fact, the majority of persons within Guyana are still under the impression that the Africans who were brought by the Europeans were all slaves.

This is not at all true, as this article aims to explore.

The integration of West Africans into the Caribbean as indentured labourers, also titled the African Immigration Scheme, began in colonial Guiana, Trinidad

and Grenada. The first batch of 337 “liberated Africans” were initially bound for Cuba, but arrived in Grenada in 1836 on the Portuguese ship Negrinha. The Vessel brought in another 486 in the same year, and so over 50 per cent of Grenada’s African indentured labourers arrived before the end of the Apprenticeship period in 1838.

In the 1840s, African immigration to the rest of the Caribbean started. This involved the so-called ‘liberated’ Africans, as well as Africans from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia, St. Helena and the Kroo Coast. After the abolition of the British slave trade in 1807, British warships had been patrolling the Atlantic Ocean, trying to stop illegal and foreign slave traders.

Africans captured in the aforementioned effort were then sent to chosen trans-shipment ports, (where goods were brought for im-

port and export, and for collection and distribution) of St. Helena and Sierra Leone, then transported to the Caribbean, where they would either become “liberated” Africans, or be sent to the West Indies as indentured labourers. The annual number of African immigrants imported, however, was always low.

Between September and December 1841, six shipments of African immigrants arrived in Jamaica alone, a large number for just one island. There, the Africans were mainly used in the parishes of St. Thomas, St. Mary, and Westmoreland.

Immigration was done under the bounty system up to 1842, after which the governments assumed direct responsibility for immigration, until the schemes were finally abolished in 1867.

Guyanese-born author, Monica Schuler, in her book, “Alas, Alas Kongo: A social

History of African immigration into Jamaica 18411865”, explained: “Having officially forsworn slavery in 1834 and 1848 respectively, Britain and France cleverly exploited their own antislave trade efforts by ‘liberating’ Africans from the slave trade and requiring them to migrate to the plantation colonies as indentured labourers.” Additionally, Colonial Secretary, Lord Stanley felt that the Africans liberated from slave ships would be “improved” by a temporary sojourn on the West Indian plantations.

LIBERATED Perhaps the most significant difference, however, between the East Indian, Portuguese, Chinese and African indentured labourers who came to British Guiana and the Caribbean during the 19th century, is that unlike the other three categories of immigrants who were citizens of countries who chose to, or were duped or cajoled into migrating, the African immigrants were persons who had been “liberated” from slave ships that were bringing them to the New World to be enslaved on plantations in Brazil and Cuba.

Having been liberated, they were taken to holding stations, mainly in Sierra Leone, but also in St Helena, Rio de Janeiro and Nassau.

The purpose of acquiring indentured immigrants from all four sources was the same: to relieve the labour shortage that had come about as a result of the ex-slaves leaving the plantations at the end of apprenticeship.

The planters were able to persuade the Colonial Office that without indentured immigrants the plantation economy would collapse and with it, civilisation in the colonies.

Arguments similar to the

ones used to justify the enslavement of Africans were now used to justify African indentures. British politician (and later, Prime Minister) Lord John Russell felt that “a regular intercourse between Africa and the West Indies would lead not only to the prosperity of the British West Indies but to the civilisation of Africa.”

How the latter was to be achieved was not made clear, but in the case of the former, it was felt that an influx of Africans working voluntarily for wages would send a positive message to the ex-slaves that working for wages on the sugar estates was not so bad after all. Ex-slaves might thus be lured into returning to work on the plantations.

More importantly, the presence of the African immigrants would certainly help to bring down the daily wage rate. Either way, the planter class would benefit.

Schuler, in her article, “Liberated Africans in 19th century British Guiana”, detailed that between 1840 and 1860, 52,000 voluntary and involuntary African immigrants were sent by the British and French to the Guianas, and the West Indies.

However, with specific reference to Guyana, she highlighted that the approximately 13,000 African indentured immigrants who came were an insignificant 5½ per cent compared to the 250,000+ East Indian immigrants who eventually came to British Guiana.

FEW RETURNED She further noted that more liberated Africans came to British Guiana than to either Trinidad or Jamaica and that few returned to Africa.

The majority of the liberated Africans or re-captives arrived from Sierra Leone between 1841 and 1851; St

Helena between 1842 and 1865; from Rio de Janeiro between 1841 and 1852 and from Nassau, New Providence between 1837 and 1846. Other Africans were recruited from the Kroo coast of Liberia between 1845 and 1853 and from the Cape Verde Islands in West Africa in the 1850s.

Liberated African residents who lived in Sierra Leone and coastal Liberia were voluntary immigrants, while recent re-captives recruited from the abovementioned depots had little say in their emigration and were involuntary immigrants.

To encourage the immigration of Africans to British Guiana, bounties of $35 were offered for immigrants from Sierra Leone, St Helena and Rio de Janeiro, and $25 from other parts of Brazil. According to historian and author, Oswald Kendall, the first group of African indentured immigrants arrived in the colony on the merchant vessel Superior on May 24, 1841.

They were only sent to estates which satisfied the strict conditions specified by Governor Henry Light, which included an estate preferably near to the sea coast; the nearest of the estates to some place of worship; not more than 20 immigrants per estate, and importantly, “Regard being had to the accommodation on the estate, it would be desirable to distribute the people as extensively as possible over the colony in order that any vicious or superstitious practices to which they might be addicted might not be perpetuated by their being kept together.”

They were therefore distributed as follows: Essequibo Coast ? Plantation Lima 17, Reliance 14, Hoff Van Aurich 8, Walton 8, Land SEE PAGE 15A

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The Forgotten ...

FROM PAGE 14A

of Plenty 17, Aberdeen 12 ? a total of 76. On the East Coast Demarara they were distributed as follows: Plantation Le Resouvenir 11, Helena 16, Enmore 17, Greenfield 13, Turkeyen 11, Annandale 16 and Dochfour 5 ? a total of 89.

However, these first immigrants were not indentured, and had the freedom to bargain for daily, weekly or monthly work.

On September 22, 1841, the Superior returned to British Guiana with 225 immigrants, who were advised by the governor to find work in the healthiest part of the colony.

Guyanese historian Anand James posited that by the middle of the 1840s, it was realised that liberated Africans would not be the answer to British Guiana’s labour problems.

In the first year of the scheme, only 1,102 liberated Africans arrived in the colony, as compared to 4,297 Portuguese and 2,745 West Indians. Between 1846 and 1848, 24,848 immigrants arrived.

Of that number, 11,025 were from India, and 10,036 were from Madeira; and therefore only 3,787 consisted of liberated

‘Daubing’ bottom houses...

FROM PAGE 4A that despite having every bit of comfort inside her home, ‘Aunty Sursattie’ also chooses to indulge in the traditions that she inherited from her parents and grandparents.

The former GuySuCo ‘weeder woman’ remains active and highly interested in telling stories of the past and teaching us ‘younguns’ the traditions of yesteryear. As soon as ‘Aunty Sursattie’ heard that I was interested in learning how to ‘daub,’ she immediately signalled me to follow her back to her outdoor kitchen. She grabbed her bucket of cow-dung and proclaimed, “Come me guh show yuh how fi do this thing. Dem this thing nah hard, ayuh just gah fi larn how fi do am,” she said.

Perdita and Aunty Sursattie are two of the very few people who continue to maintain a tradition that dates back to thousands of years ago.

COW-DUNG FOR ECO-CONSTRUCTION As a matter of fact, “archaeologists have found evidence of mud brick buildings constructed as early as 10 thousand years ago in the Middle East and North Africa, where impressive buildings up to ten stories high have been recorded in an unbroken architec-

tural tradition that continues today,” according to a comprehensive research done by the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, at the National University of Malaysia (UKM).

In India, the use of cow dung as a building material is referred to as eco-construction, and years ago, mud houses were considered to be quite resilient to climate change, since cow dung remains warm in winters and cold in summers.

With cows being sacred animals in Hinduism, the use of cow dung to pave walls and floors also have a religious significance. In some Indian villages, applying cow dung is part of the cleaning process for many households.

From a scientific perspective, cow dung is said to have the power to kill several types of bacteria that are harmful for humans. It is also said to be a repellent for small insects such as mosquitos, scorpions and centipedes. Cow dung is also used in many parts of the developing world to make fuel. Despite these benefits, concrete continues to be used as a more convenient construction alternative.

Africans and West Indians. Additionally, six trips made by the transport ship Arabian to the colony brought only 652 liberated Africans. Afterwards, the planters turned their attention to immigration from India, which appeared to be the more abundant source.

After 1850, the liberated Africans came in very small numbers. In 1852, the last set of 113 came from Rio, and 140 came from Sierra Leone. However, small shiploads continued to arrive until 1865.

The British Guianese planters were able to enact tough labour laws to control the immigrant labour force. In 1848, three-year voluntary contracts existed, but by 1854, the Colonial Office approved compulsory indentures for three years, and by 1863 there was an extension of indentureship to five years.

African indentured labourers faced the same conditions and were governed by the same laws as other indentured immigrants. As Anand James rightly concluded when the Colonial Office decided to allow the emigration of liberated Africans to the West Indies in 1841, it initiated a process that was not unfamiliar in the history of British Guiana, because the planters had once again managed to get what they wanted.

(Some sections of this article are modified excerpts from a previously published article, with the permission of the author.

The original article was written by Cecilia McAlmont, and was first published by Stabroek News on May 26, 2011, as part of the ‘History This Week’ series. It was later republished

by Stabroek News, on August 1, 2013, under the title, “African immigrants: They arrived too”.

Much of the information for this article is drawn from a book and article by Monica Schuler and articles by Anand James and Oswald Kendall, as well as “Caribbean History for CSEC”, by Kevin Baldeosingh, and Radica Mahase)

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Chinese in...

FROM PAGE 9A punished by flogging. Later, some Chinese planted rice on small plots, but since Indians who were already cultivating rice expanded their production, the Chinese resorted to purchasing their supplies from them.

The Chinese, like many Indians, used their savings to purchase land from African landowners. They were also astute businessmen and, by the 1880s, had established themselves in business, particularly in operating grocery stores in the rural villages and also in Georgetown and New Amsterdam. They also established laundries and restaurants in the two towns.

(Retrieve from http:// www.guyana.org/features/ guyanastory/chapter56.html) Their Descendants By 1900 the Chinese population in British Guiana had dwindled to 2,919 since the majority of Chinese at that time preferred to marry people from their own country but there were too few Chinese women available. Many also left the colony to seek their destiny in other countries, particularly French Guiana, Surinam and Trinidad.

Chinese Contributions In the post-indentureship era, there has been considerable human, social, industrial, political and national development as Guyana advanced as a nation. The Chinese factor has been important. Some of the areas of Chinese contribution and influence are well known, while others are fairly unsung, or have remained in the margins of national consciousness.

The post and extra-plantation experience of the former indentured workers, both those who completed their contracts and those who ran away from them, are very varied. Many, after leaving the estates, went into commercial activities, to the point where they developed a high reputation as shopkeepers, to the point of stereotype.

But this went on to become a substantial contribution to commerce and entrepreneurship. As Chinese descendants moved into the professions, they made contributions to law and education, as well as politics.

In cultural areas, contribution to cuisine has always been most famous. A major contribution has been in the

world of sports. Chinese Guyanese once dominated the field of hockey, especially throughout the 1950s, 60s, 70s and up to the 1980s.

They were foremost in the clubs, the national competitive leagues and overshadowed all other ethnic groups in the national hockey teams.

Guyana was very well represented in those years. National teams dominated by players of Chinese descent led Guyana to Caribbean regional championships. The country spent a long time at the top of the sport in the Caribbean.

In table tennis, some of Guyana’s best years in the Caribbean regional championships were those when Guyanese Chinese were prominent. Other areas included squash in which Chinese were also prominent.

There is also a significant collection of writers and works in Guyanese Chinese literature, including not only writers of Chinese ancestry, but a corpus of what may be called Guyanese Chinese literature (in terms of the focus, content and preoccupations).

(Retrieve from Stabroek News: The Chinese contribution to Guyanese literature) Notable Persons Arthur Raymond

The Last Ship: The History of the Chinese in Guyana

Chung Arthur Raymond Chung OE (10 January 1918 – 23 June 2008) was a Guyanese statesman who served as the first President of Guyana from 1970 to 1980. He was the first ethnic Chinese head of state in a non-Asian country. He was honoured with Guyana’s highest national honour, the Order of Excellence (O.E.). Chung was a leader in Guyana’s fight for independence during the British colonial era.

When Guyana became a republic under the leadership of Forbes Burnham in 1970, the National Assembly elected Chung as the country’s first President; he took office on 17 March 1970. During his presidency, on June 27, 1972, Guyana established formal diplomatic relations with China, making Guyana the first English-speaking Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

In 1977, President Chung of Guyana visited China and met with Hua Guofeng, Premier of China.

(Retrieve from https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Chung) Robert Victor Evan Wong Robert Victor Evan Wong (July 4, 1895 - October 19, 1952) was a politician, civil engineer, rancher and businessman, elected to the British Guiana legislature in 1926 and 1934, and appointed to its Executive Council in 1928.He is notable for being the first Chinese-Guianese member of both the British Guiana Legislative and Executive Councils.

Prevented by poor eyesight from serving in World War I, Wong returned to the Colony to serve as a civil engineer in government service, designing sea walls, bridges, roads, sluices and other infrastructure. He thereafter

managed a family sugar plantation and refinery.

In 1926, at age 31, Wong won election to the British Guiana Court of Policy from the Essequibo Islands. This body became the Legislative Council following a Constitutional change in 1928. As a result, Wong has been identified as the first person of East Asian descent elected to a national legislature in the Americas. His subsequent appointment to the Executive Council was also a first for a West Indian Chinese.

As a legislator, Wong was a principal proponent of the introduction of personal income taxation. Wong won election to a subsequent term on the Legislative Council in 1934 under a slogan reflecting his initials: Right Vanquishes Every Wrong.

Wong’s business interests included Good Hope Ranch in the Rupununi Savannah, Anchor Ranch in Berbice, and interests in an abattoir, tannery and shoemaking factory. He owned a number of stone quarries, as well as oil and bauxite mining concessions. Wong promoted a government and internationally financed sustainable development project for tropical hardwood industry, cut short

by World War II. Wong was co-founder and President of the Durban Race Club.

(Retrieve from :https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Victor_Evan_Wong) O Tye Kim, also known as Wu Tai-Kam The most well known Chinese immigrant in Guyana was O Tye Kim, also known as Wu Tai-Kam. O Tye Kim was employed by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and soon after he left for England. There he established an alliance with the Church Missionary Society which decided to send him to work among the Chinese immigrants in Guyana in 1864.

The Society paid his passage to Guyana and provided him with funds to meet his initial expenses.

In Guyana, he quickly won the friendship of Governor Sir Francis Hincks who supported the establishment of a church in Georgetown to minister to more than one hundred and twenty Chinese Christians. He also travelled on foot to all the sugar estates, at his own expense, to meet with Chinese immigrants, and had great success in converting the non-believers among them to Christianity. In a very short time, he established great influence among the Chinese immigrants who sought his advice and made voluntary contributions to him.

Within a year of his arrival in Guyana, O Tye Kim developed a plan to resettle Chinese, who had completed their indenture, on an agricultural settlement called Hopetown on Kamuni Creek, a west bank tributary of the Demerara River. For this project he obtained the permission of the Government, and he began the settlement with 12 Chinese settlers, and by the end of 1865, under his careful supervision, Hopetown’s population grew to 170 inhabitants.

The settlement was largely self-sufficient, and O Tye Kim kept a tight control on its economic and social development. The settlers, in addition to producing agricultural commodities, manufactured large quantities of charcoal, the sale of which O Tye Kim organised in Georgetown.

O Tye Kim’s work among the Chinese was given official recognition when the Court of Policy Guyana appointed him as a paid missionary with special responsibility to minister to the Chinese population.

(Retrieve from http:// www.guyana.org/features/ guyanastory/chapter57.html)