Arrival Day celebrated at Indian Monument Gardens

May 06, 2015 News

…Gov’t officials a no show
The Indian Monument Gardens came alive yesterday as the Indian Commemoration

Dancer from the Nadira and Indranie Shaw Troupe at yesterday’s Arrival Day celebrations

Trust (ICT) hosted an event in commemoration of the 177th anniversary of the arrival of Indian Indentured Labourers to Guyana.
The gardens became the scene of Indian culturally themed exhibitions, cuisines and art forms, as hundreds of citizens turned up at the Camp and Church streets location to pay tribute to one of the country’s defining cultural milestones.
Present at the celebrations were US Charge d’ Affaires to Guyana, Bryan Hunt, Town Clerk Carol Sooba , Co-founder of the Alliance For Change, Khemraj Ramjattan and Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green.
Noticeably absent were all of the country’s government officials.
Addressing the audience in his capacity as ICT Chairman was Dr. Yesu Persaud, whose remarks centered on togetherness amongst Guyanese of all backgrounds. He related that the task of transforming the Indian Monument Garden, by the ICT, from wilderness to a “garden of togetherness” is testament to obstacles the country can overcome through cooperation.
“It is because of ignorance and division that we have problems,” said Dr Persaud, “I would like to see that we can achieve togetherness working for a common good in my lifetime.”
Delivering the feature address at the cultural affair was ICT honouree, Ashook Ramsarran whose speech focused on the cultural legacy the indentured labourers have managed to build since arriving in Guyana.
In addressing the gathering, Ramsarran not only honoured arrivals from India but also paid respect to those from Africa, China and Portugal. “We pay homage to those who came before; from Calcutta, Madras, Madeira, Macau, Gambia and the Congo. We have roots in Indian, Africa, China and the Americas, yet we have nurtured stronger roots here in Guyana, making it better with each generation,”
said Ramsarran.
“Together we have weathered the storms of slavery, indentureship and colonialism to emerge with shared aspirations… with energy to mould a new nation,” said the honouree even as he acknowledged outstanding Guyanese in the Diaspora.
“We have successfully bridged Berbice and Demerara yet some differences remain amongst us and it will take statesmanship and objective minds to bridge these. We are kindred spirits… like it or not history has dealt us a hand, divorce is not an option. Embrace and enhance the kinship among us,” urged Ramsarran.
Activities continued well into the evening with cultural dances and songs as more persons poured into the park to be part of the festivities.