CONCERNS are being raised about the role and involvement of several principal political extremists and anti-People’s Progressive Party (PPP) activists in the call for the government to rethink its decision to erect the new 1823 monument at Carifesta Avenue, opposite the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) headquarters. A senior government official who spoke with Guyana Chronicle said that the “usual suspects” have already inserted themselves into the disagreement between the Culture Ministry and the other African Cultural Groups.
“They are bent on utilising this issue to achieve their narrow political objectives and to spew more discord in the society. This group always appears to be associated with any anti-government or anti-development cause and are seeking to incite another wave of violence using these well respected cultural groups as scapegoats”, the official said.

Asked who he was referring to, the official said, “I am talking about the politically corrupt Mark Benschop, Norris Witter and Lincoln Lewis”. The official also argued that the Alliance for Change Chairman Nigel Hughes has also demonstrated his interest in the matter, by seeking to undermine attempts to move ahead with the monument construction project, for political gain.
Unconfirmed reports have indicated that Hughes is leading a coalition that is believed to be inclusive of some of the aforementioned political principles merged with several other African cultural groups, that have announced intentions to erect their own 1823 monument at the Parade Ground in Georgetown.
“We are concerned that they are deliberately misleading afro-Guyanese into believing that some discrimination is taking place and that the government is behind it. We are also concerned that Benschop and Hughes have a reputation of (allegedly) inciting or calling for Guyanese to be engaged in activities which most times turn out violent or end with public disorder,” the official opined.
He recalled the opposition led and promoted violence at Linden and Agricola along with the period of public unrests and instability, which resulted in the loss of lives, scores being injured and Guyana coming under siege with the aim of creating a state of ungovernableness and emergency in the country.
The officials warned that “inciting violence” is usually never the answer while condemning the continued appeal to the racial weaknesses and sensitivities of afro-Guyanese and all Guyanese by extension with respect to the construction of the 1823 monument.
Despite the opposition politicians chatter about no consultations, the administration has managed to prove that there were several announcements that the monument would be erected at Carifesta Avenue.
In 2011, which was the International Year of Persons of African Descent, several announcements and advertisements were made nationally, calling for responses and suggestions in relation to the monument and its possible location.
But there was no response. Subsequently, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport went ahead, and after visiting all the locations where incidents took place and slaves were killed during the revolt, the decision was finally taken to place it at the seawall site.
The 1823 Monument was sculpted by Ivor Thom after he had won the free and open competition organised by the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry. This monument will be erected in recognition of the historic August 1823 Revolt by enslaved Africans, which occurred on the East Coast of Demerara. They worked on the sugar plantations, revolted against their enslavement and were killed.