Importance of heritage to be emphasised at Bartica Emancipation observance

Jul 27, 2018 News

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“Entertainment without education is another form of oppression,” said Regional Chairman of Region Seven, Mr. Gordon Bradford, as he offered remarks at a press conference to share plans to commemorate Emancipation Day 2018 in Bartica.
While the August 1 observance was said to be vibrant back in the day, the interest in the event had dwindled over the years. However, given its township status which was acquired in 2016, deliberate moves were made to revamp the way the national holiday is observed.
This therefore required the establishment of a Bartica Emancipation Committee.
Sitting at the helm of the Committee as Chairman is remigrant Mr. Roxroy Parris.
Parris, who returned to Guyana about a year ago, is the owner of the Atlantic Service Station. Other members of the committee include: Mr. John McKenzie, Treasurer, Patricia Hopkinson, Secretary; Committee Members: Shirley Douglas, Averil Lynch and Winsley Benn.
Speaking of the Committee, Parris said, “I hope that working together we will build something that can motivate people to start looking into themselves and appreciating the value of where they come from.”
Moreover, Parris said that a primary focus of the Committee will be to sensitise the public, particularly the youths. He shared his belief that “understanding your history and culture is important in the heritage discussion as we move Guyana forward.”
But the Committee is not working in isolation as, according to Parris, a keen effort is being made to reach out to corporate Bartica as well as residents in the quest to make the Emancipation Day observance a successful venture.
He underscored that the support is being solicited even as members of the Committee bear in mind that Bartica is a mixed community with a number of people with indigenous heritage. As such, he noted that although the focus currently is on Afro-Barticians “that does not mean we are going to be ignoring the other cultures.”
Raised awareness in Bartica is particularly important, Parris said, since “Bartica has been dumb in terms of cultural movement. Bartica was vibrant back in the 60s and 70s, but somehow things slowed down tremendously.”
“I really like the steps taken by the group by bringing something like this to Bartica,” said the Committee Chairman as he added, “I am happy for the energy of the group, but we need the young people to come on board. We need to have sessions to educate them and encourage them to showcase and be involved in their heritage. It is our responsibility…”
Even as he commended the work of the Committee, Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford, described the decision to orchestrate an Emancipation event as quite a challenge. He however expressed hope that the observance this year will not be a one-off undertaking.
“The Regional Democratic Council is happy that we have this group…We are happy such a group has been formed and has taken up the challenge; we needed that boost to make an attraction while imparting much needed knowledge,” said Bradford.
He urged the Committee members to recruit the support of others with a view of expanding its effort to impart knowledge of the Africans who were enslaved but eventually helped to pave a way for their descendants.
“Emancipation is not really a celebration, but an observance where we pay homage to our ancestors who were brutally enslaved, raped, murdered, degraded when they were brought to the Caribbean and these shores. We must never forget their sacrifice; we need to observe these occasions when it comes around,” Bradford encouraged.
As he stressed the importance of education in this regard, he urged the Committee “whatever you bring to the public it must be something that would educate especially our young people, because some of us have lost our way. We don’t know from whence we came and if we don’t know where we came from, then we certainly don’t know where we are heading.”
But even as efforts are made at educating the youths about their culture, Parris added, “we must show inclusiveness without losing our individuality…if we don’t foster unity, we will not be able to see ‘one people, one nation and one destiny.’”
According to Hopkinson, the observance will commence on July 31 with drumming and a march from Four Mile to Mon Grippa Hill ball field where there will be a campfire. On August 1, beginning at 10 am, the activities will kick off at the cenotaph with a prayer, drumming and street march around Bartica which will end at the pavilion. Other activities will include an exhibition and cultural show which will continue into the night. The Committee is optimistic that those who will grace the event will do so garbed in African wear.

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