ONE of the Ministry of Culture’s premier activities for the United Nations’ designated “International Year for People of African Descent” was a competition for Guyanese artists/sculptors to design a monument to commemorate the country’s 1823 slave revolt. The 1823 slave rebellion occurred on Monday, August 18, 1823, at Plantation Success, which was situated between Liliendaal and Mahaica on the East Coast of Demerara.
Approximately 1100 – 1200 slaves from 55 plantations on the East Coast of Demerara participated in the revolt.
Entries were submitted by Ivor Thom, Michael Khan, Christopher Sundar, F Van Sertima and E Phillips.
A  selection panel, comprising Colonel (retired)  L V  Ross, MEM, MSM;  R Cummings,  BSA; Ms. Osborne, BSA; and Rawle Edingborough, Ministry of Housing,
Mr. Dalgetty and Ms. D Miller of the Ministry of Education reviewed the entries, and the design by Georgia, US-based sculptor Ivor Thom was chosen as the winning entry. Thom is the sculptor who also designed the Damon Monument now sited at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, and the Burnham Mausoleum in the Botanical Gardens. He also did work for Carifesta X in 2008.
The winning entry was chosen unanimously in August last year. Since then, a Site Selection Committee has been diligently searching for an appropriate location to erect the monument. The committee consulted widely and visited numerous suggested sites on the East Coast of Demerara in the vicinity of the revolt. Five areas between Mahaica and Georgetown were short-listed. After consideration of such criteria as ambience, emotional and physical connection to the rebellion, adequate land space with a view to a future park, accessibility, and vehicle parking.
The old Parade Ground, now Independence Park, Middle Street, Georgetown; Montrose on the East Coast Demerara; and an area north of the public road at Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara are being considered for the Monument Site.
Members of the public can suggest sites of their own. The suggestions can be sent to Colonel L V Ross at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, 91 Middle Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, no later than March 31, 2012.
The 1823 Monument will be cast in a foundry being built at the Burrowes School of Arts.