First Lady, Madame Deolatchmee Ramotar…

Arrival Day is a time to celebrate our rich diversity
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 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!

PPP…

Our society today is richer for our diversity
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 than (with) 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 colour of their skin, religious beliefs or political affiliation — is provided with an equal opportunity to realize his/her potential and play his/her 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 of which our fore-parents would be proud.

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.

FITUG…

Let’s celebrate our arrival, survival and success
AMONGST the 35,000-strong membership of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), thousands belonging to our affiliates are descendants of the East Indian immigrants who began arriving in Guyana in May, 1838.
For that fact alone, FITUG can have cause to congratulate Guyanese of Indian descent on the occasion of the 176th Anniversary of “Indian” arrival.
But there are numerous other reasons to be happy about this Arrival Anniversary: Indo-Guyanese survived the travails of British Estate indentureship to build for themselves, their descendants and all of Guyana the foundation of other industries upon which today’s economy rests. Agriculture — rice, fishing, vegetable crops, dairy and poultry, now agro-industries, are some (of the ventures) worthy of mention.

FITUG congratulates the arrival’s descendants for their all-round contributions to Guyana’s identity and collective survival and progress. We can conjure up the imagery of outstanding individuals who personify successful contributions to culture, sport, industry, the judicial system, social services, and the politics and the governance of our Guyana.
In representative trade unionism also, the names of early Indo-Guyanese mentioned alongside the iconic Critchlow of the pioneering Guyana Labour Union (GLU) include Edun, Jagan, Latchmansingh, Ishmael, Baichan, Maraj, Ramphal, Rangela and Chand – the latter of modern vintage.

The FITUG appeals to today’s Indo-Guyanese to preserve their heritage of religion, cultural practices, industry, and achievements within a patriotism which embraces other Guyanese. By this we mean that they should use their successes to benefit their families, communities, and indeed the nation to which they fully belong.

Never use that success to belittle others or to deny others. The pride of arrival, survival and success must be cushioned upon the pillars of friendship and co-operation.

So FITUG salutes the Indo-Guyanese community in all its mixtures and admixtures; their contributions, from sport to police and defence forces, to the trades and arts.
Your success depends on the co-operation and support from all others present in the Republic’s population. Our interdependence must be beneficial to Guyana’s enduring existence.

Happy 176th Arrival Anniversary from FITUG.

GAWU…

A story of quiet triumph, and inspirational success
ONE hundred and seventy-six (176) years ago, two ships deposited nearly four hundred (400) Indian Indentured immigrants on the West Bank of Demerara in May. Thus began intermittent, then steady, structured State-assisted immigration of East Indian sugar estate labourers to the then colony of British Guiana.

That history is fairly well known, but should be taught in detail in our educational institutions. The father of a British Prime Minister introduced Indian Immigration to this country. What would he think of his “Gladstone Experiment” today?

A little taught fact is that not too significant a number of those first contracted labourers opted to return to their Indian homeland, taking thousands of dollars with them at the end of their specific agreement period.

That is the context within which the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) situates its tribute to Guyanese of Indian decent on this 176th Anniversary of their first arrival.

The sacrifices of the immigrants during the first decade of life on the former slave plantations are well documented. Humanitarian individuals and forces in the colony itself, in Britain and India exposed some near slavery experiences of the “bound coolies”. Sicknesses, breaches of their contracts, severe physical penalties for real or perceived offences; even violation of their females were abuses that dogged the Asian labourers who rescued the Guiana sugar industry for its British merchants and planters.

This was done so that the descendants of those labourers who stayed on in the colony could use their early determination to succeed in establishing new agricultural pursuits (like rice) and villages.

That today’s descendants have contributed to every area of the Republic’s existence is, to GAWU’s mind, a story of quiet triumph and inspirational success.

GAWU uses this anniversary to make a plea with respect to the rescue and resuscitation of the sugar industry today. GAWU congratulates the Parliament, including the Opposition, for the injection of funds to turn the ailing industry around.

Sugar was the bitter-sweet product that brought both our African and Indian foreparents to this land. Yes, sugar is our patrimony. The emancipation of the slaves caused the indentured foreigners to come.

GAWU represents the heirs of their sacrifices and successes. We therefore demand renewed management of this industry; it is often said that sugar is too big to fail.

Guyana’s dependence on sugar is gargantuan. A happy, contemplative Arrival Anniversary to all!

PNCR…

Ours is a unique tapestry of people called Guyanese
THE People’s National Congress Reform joins with all Guyanese of Indian descent to commemorate the 176th Anniversary of Indian Arrival Day, and (to) celebrate the tremendous contributions made by all of these valuable persons, who shaped every area of national life to help make Guyana a much richer place.

We salute all of our Indian brothers and sisters as we celebrate this special commemorative day.

The PNCR is happy to be identified with all groups in society who seek to celebrate the achievement of our ancestors, whose courage, personal sacrifice, and commitment have helped to create a unique tapestry of people called Guyanese.

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 organizations, 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.

On this occasion of the 176th Anniversary of the Arrival of East Indians in Guyana, the PNCR 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.

The party joins in wishing all Guyanese citizens of East Indian origin a Happy Arrival Day.