Arrival Day Messages 2012

May 05, 2012 News

---

GAWU

May in Guyana accommodates observances to commemorate the coming, the bringing, the arrival of immigrants to and in (British) Guyana in the nineteenth century.
Prior to and after the full Emancipation of the African Slave and “Apprentice’ workforce on the European-owned sugar plantations in 1838, there was a vital need for substitutes to produce the sugar and other commodities in this part of the world so that Britain, especially, could be kept great.
It is still a great modern-day irony that Britain, France, Holland, Portugal,  Europe which fed off the sweat and labour of slaves and immigrants in their Caribbean, America and Guiana colonies, collectively turned their backs on the descendants of the producers when the European Union arbitrarily ended certain sugar prices two (2) years ago.
It is against those basic reflections that the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) extends greetings to the present-day Guyanese whose forefathers arrived here in three ships on May 05, 174 years ago. GAWU refers to the indentured/contracted labourers brought here from the Indian sub-continent, especially.
There is no need to recount, in any detail the travails, the suffering and the survival of those “Bound-Coolie” immigrants who replaced the slaves and re-configured the demography of the colony of British Guiana and later independent Guyana.
Rather, GAWU now pays tribute to the triumph of their spirit and their contributions which, in large measures, fashioned the Guyana we know today. From politics to sport; from agriculture to the arts; from religion to government, Indo-Guyanese are part and parcel of Guyana’s identity and presence in the global community.
As one of the Unions in the country’s labour landscape, all that GAWU asks during this Arrival Day weekend is that the immigrants descended community reflect upon the values and fortitude which made their forefathers survive and prosper. Then use the principles of those experiences to enrich the continuing contribution they make to keeping Guyana on the map. Use the celebration of arrival to demonstrate the ability to stay the course and walk the path of development, hand in hand with your fellow Guyanese.
From the land and agriculture to the professions and trades you contributed. To the land, therefore, you must pledge continued allegiance. Put Guyana first wherever you and relatives find yourselves.
Happy, reflective Arrival Day 2012 celebrations from GAWU

……..

PNCR
The People’s National Congress Reform joins all like-minded groups, here at home and in the Diaspora, in celebrating the 174th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians in Guyana. This occasion offers the opportunity for the nation as a whole to recognise the important role that our East Indian ancestors and fellow compatriots have played in the development of Guyana.
The Party also believes that this is also an opportunity for the nation to understand that we all share a common destiny and that racial harmony, tolerance and understanding are essential to the further and overall development of this country. The development of Guyana can no longer be deferred. It is, therefore, essential that all stakeholders, especially political parties, and all relevant social groups and organisations make a firm commitment to exercise honesty, maturity and good judgement in order that this nation can put an end to racism, which has often stymied the development of our society and nation.
The PNCR, therefore, calls on all our citizens to reflect on the significance of this occasion and to take to heart the lesson that racial harmony and understanding are the keys to our survival and long term development.

……..
PPP

The People’s Progressive Party extends greetings to all Guyanese on the occasion of Arrival Day, May 5th 2012. Guyana today is a rich and colorful tapestry of ethnic groups welded together as a single nation without each losing its distinctiveness. All Guyanese of all ethnic groups have contributed to this multiculturalism
This rich cultural diversity emerged from a painful and dehumanizing system of colonialism. The freedoms and development that we enjoy today did not come easy.  Our ancestors faced the most arduous and formidable of odds as they confronted the terrors of settlement, slavery and indentureship. The challenges were many but through sheer willpower, courage, and sustained toil, our foreparents laid the foundation for a free Guyana.
Today we recall with gratitude the epic struggles of our foreparents for national liberation and for the restoration of democracy. Today we have the opportunity to build on their sacrifices as we move our country forward towards greater political, social and economic progress.
However, the progress that we have made must never be taken for granted. Our history has demonstrated that when we have allowed ourselves to be divided, when narrow and selfish interests have superseded the common good, we endanger our liberties and our hard-earned development.
On this Arrival Day, the Peoples Progressive Party urges all Guyanese to zealously safeguard their future from those who wish to setback the development of Guyana.
We have an obligation to our foreparents to ensure that their sacrifices were not in vain. We have a duty to persevere so as to eliminate the remnants of poverty, carve out a more equal and just society while enlarging our economy and improving the delivery of public good and services.
Happy Arrival Day!

…….
FITUG

The historians have recorded all that the Indian Immigrants and their descendants suffered then contributed to the making of the Guyana Nation over the 174 years since the Grand Arrival here on May 05, 1838.
The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is most pleased to join all Guyanese in observing, even celebrating the arrival of all immigrants to the British Guiana landscape of the 1800’s, to fill the European plantation void in the aftermath of the African Emancipation. From the Indian sub-continent, history records, a prominent British Planter “imported” contracted labourers to work on the sugar plantations. Some labourers were duped; most were glad to attempt the new life promised in the Guiana tropics. All were made to slave, to produce, to people an alien land owned by Europe. The Indentured Indian Immigrant Story is a saga of survival and triumph over frightening exploitation of their labour, shrewd ethnic manipulation against earlier and later groups also “imported”, but a tale of achievement and contribution.
FITUG, within the context of today’s Guyana, struggling to keep the unity of the purpose and the solidarity of successful gains intact, urges that these Arrival Day celebrations avoid any hint of triumphalism over others, but rather celebrate the triumph of a collective spirit which kept the indentured immigrants and their descendants as a determined, dignified and culturally strong component of a colony turned into Independent State.
FITUG celebrates the contributions of the Indo-Guyanese, the Chinese and Portuguese elements, to our labour movement, our politics and governments. Today’s immigrant sons and daughters must use the inspiration of survival and success in every field of endeavor and national development to continue to serve national development which ensures personal satisfaction and comfort.
From working-class to the higher echelons, let the sons and daughters of the 1838 arrivals, feel Guyanese enough to share success and contributions with their fellow citizens.
Happy Arrival Day 2012

 

AFC
On the occasion of the 174th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians in Guyana, the Alliance for Change (AFC) salutes all our Indo-Guyanese brothers and sisters.
It is indisputable that our people of Indian ancestry have laid the cornerstone not only of a free, independent and democratic country, but have been a major pillar in the economic, social and cultural advancement of Guyana through their sacrifice and industry.
But whilst we applaud Indo-Guyanese for shaking off the shackles of indentureship, we wish to warn against the new “sahibs” and “sultans” today who are forging chains to keep them captive in a wicked racist game, of divide and rule.
The AFC notes attempts by the new masters to manipulate Indo-Guyanese sugar workers with lies and misinformation. They were caught trying to destroy GAWU, and to retrench sugar workers by reducing pay and changing conditions of work.
They did not tell the sugar belt that AFC voted for $4 Billion to bail out the almost crippled Guysuco. AFC did this to save workers jobs, and stave off collapse of the industry due to corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency.
The new masters did not reveal that AFC voted for $5 Billion for GPL to prevent coastal inhabitants, including sugar workers, from paying increased electricity tariffs. AFC said it would vote for an additional $1 Billion once GPL reduces its operational losses due to bad management. Yet, they scandalously spread the racist line that AFC wanted to take away money from Guysuco and hand it to Linden to subsidise electricity charges in the bauxite town.
The racism of the PPP/C is very evident indeed, and Indo-Guyanese ought not to fall for this wickedness!
AFC’s fight to get Government to place an estimated $50 Billion into the Treasury which is now in NICIL private accounts, would bring tremendous relief to all Guyanese. Guyana will have not $170 Billion to spend, but in excess of $220 Billion! This means bigger pay, better working conditions, more pensions and social assistance, among other poverty reducing measures.  Our Indo-Guyanese brothers and sisters must understand that the biggest cut from the 2012 Budget was made when the PPP Government axed over $50 B from the Consolidated Fund and siphoned it off illegally into a PPP members’ account at NICIL!
Great days are ahead for all Indo-Guyanese as the AFC works with other patriotic forces to improve our governance, and hold public servants to account, and realize the expectations of “lean and clean” government as advanced by the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, who was the finest example of Guyanese nationalism and Indo-Guyanese values.
As we pay respect today to our glorious ancestors, we note that in spite of daunting challenges, Indo-Guyanese have survived and even excelled, here and in the Diaspora.
AFC therefore urges our Indo-Guyanese community to hold high the torch of family and cultural values, the search for intellectual development, cooperation, industry, thrift and hard work so that, together with all of our other ethnic groupings, we can take Guyana to higher levels!

---

---