Arrival Day greetings

May 05, 2014 News

---

Message for Arrival Day 2014 from Madame Deolatchmee Ramotar, First Lady of Guyana

I extend greetings to all Guyanese on the occasion of Arrival Day 2014. On the 5th of May each year, a public holiday, we commemorate the arrival of the many peoples who came to our shores. Our history informs us that not all of us came freely and of our own volition. Some of our peoples were forcibly brought here and others were lured by the promise of a better life and opportunities. Many of those who came stayed and made this country their home. Through their contributions and that of their descendants, we have forged a nation out of the many cultural strands of our peoples.
Arrival Day is a celebration of a nation carved out of the meetings of many worlds and cultures. Our ancestors came from various parts of the world: Europe, Africa and Asia. Those who came following the discovery of the New World met the indigenous peoples of our country. Their ancestors too had journeyed to Guyana, thousands of years prior.
Arrival Day is a time to celebrate the diversity spawned by the many peoples that came. It is a time to recognize how privileged we are to belong to a nation of so many cultures, each adding richness and value to our national tapestry. Whether you are of African, East Indian, Portuguese, Chinese, European, Amerindian or of mixed descent, Arrival Day should remind you all that every citizen, no matter his or her colour, creed or class is an equal member of our society and should be respected and valued.
On this Arrival Day I wish to reiterate an appeal that I have made before for us to continue to strive for and to promote greater harmony in our relations with one another. Let us work to overcome the barriers of suspicion, hatred and mistrust which are often planted by those who seek to divide us to facilitate our exploitation. Arrival is a historical reality which we all have to accept. How we live with each other, how we relate to one another and the extent to which we promote good relations will be our contribution towards the survival and development of Guyana.
I therefore hope that on this Arrival Day, we reaffirm our commitment to improving relations amongst all of our peoples so that Guyana can continue to traverse along the road of peace, unity and progress.
Happy Arrival Day to all of Guyana!

 

 

 

People’s Progressive Party (PPP)

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) extends Arrival Day greetings to the people of Guyana and takes this opportunity to call on everyone to use this occasion to reflect on the long and difficult journey we have traversed as a nation over the decades.
Guyana as we all know is a transplanted society in which our fore parents with the exception of our indigenous Amerindians were brought to the shores of Guyana to provide cheap labour to the planter class.
Whether they came as slaves or as indentured labourers, they all had to endure the indignity of a cruel system which was more concerned with extracting profits from their labour rather than providing them with a life worthy of human existence.
Despite the harsh and oppressive nature of the environment in which they lived, they never gave up on their dreams for a free, progressive and cohesive country in which future generations would one day live in a Guyana where there is unity, freedom and prosperity.
The PPP is proud of the fact that it has played a major part in the realization of those dreams. This is why as a political party it has always embraced the principles and ideals of a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Guyana where every Guyanese, regardless of the color of their skin, religious beliefs or political affiliation are provided with an equal opportunity to realize their potential and play their part in the exciting task of nation building.
Our society today is richer for our diversity. We now live in a country that is truly blessed with human and natural resources and it is for us all to combine our talents and skills to propel this country forward to one in which our fore parents would be proud of.
This is why there can be no room for complacency in our efforts to build this beautiful country of ours. We have to always strive to preserve our unity and multiculturalism and reject all those who out of narrow partisan agendas want to divide us and put obstacles to the path of development.
Once again, congratulations to all Guyanese as we celebrate our arrival to this beautiful country of ours. We have every reason to celebrate. This is why the PPP/C administration has seen it fit to designate May 5 as Arrival Day and enacted Legislation to make this Day a National Holiday in tribute to our fore parents and their offspring.

 

 

---

---