Latest update February 6th, 2025 7:27 AM
President urges cohesion on Arrival Day at Highbury
By Malisa Playter Harry
Hundreds of persons from all the different races yesterday turned out in huge numbers to celebrate the Arrival of Indians to Guyana at Highbury Village, East Bank Berbice.
Officials and residents at the Arrival Day celebrations.
President David Granger, delivering the feature address, spoke of the contributions the East Indians made to Guyana during their indentureship and the contributions they continue to make today.
He underscored the need to protect and preserve what the ancestors left and also pushed to continue the efforts in making Guyana a green state.
“Our green state can furnish us a good life for generations to come only if we have the spirit of cohesion, only if we create a community in which our diversity, our differences are respected and celebrated as you do here today”, the President reiterated to the crowd of women, men and children.
He further noted that the green state must embody the cohesiveness that arise from the unique and shared past. “There is no other part of the world like Guyana, it is the diversity celebrated that will lead us to prosperity.”
The President also stated that with Guyana’s potential and beauty the transition of becoming a green state should be easy with the already rich past that the ancestors left for the current generation to emulate and learn from.
Regional Chairman, David Armogan, did not disappoint as he charged ahead with a message for the Government. He once again issued a call to save the Sugar Industry. He capitalized on the opportunity to urge the government to make informed decisions that will in the future benefit those that are presently fighting for their jobs in the local sugar estates.
“They worked almost 79 years on the sugar plantation to bring us to what it is today. We, the descendants of slaves and indentured labourers today continue to depend on the sugar industry for our livelihood and survival.
“With the sweat and blood of our ancestors are mixed with the soil of the sugar industry and many of us today are still employed in it.” Armogan called on the government to consider when decisions are made with regards to the sugar industry the people and their survival must be considered.
He said that there will be economic consequences if the decisions are not made properly. “We must ensure that the employment of people is protected so that they can continue to provide for their families. We have a country to build and we must put our heads together, the government has a responsibility to ensure there is employment for the people.”
The day concluded with several cultural items. There were skits, poetry and dances that depicted the indentured labourers and their culture. Various Ministers of the Government among them Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Members of Parliament, Regional Officials and the former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds were all present to celebrate the day.
Persons were also treated to tasty delicacies that originated from the East Indians. A replica of the Whitby was also on display at the site. The event was coordinated by the Berbice Indian Cultural Committee headed by Mr. Chandra Sohan.
The Albion Sports Complex also hosted an Indian Arrival Day Celebration spearheaded by the Indian Arrival Day committee that also saw many in attendance, they were also treated to an evening of entertainment and tributes to the East Indians.
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