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The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has successfully completed its three-part Commemorative Lecture Series, titled the ‘Distinguished Lecture Series’, in honour of the 250th Anniversary of the 1763 Berbice Slave Revolt, and they have been widely hailed as a resounding success. The third and final lecture was held last Thursday at the Umana Yana, Kingston, Georgetown and the guest speaker was Professor Verene Shepherd, Professor of Social History at Mona Campus, University of the West Indies (UWI). The theme of her presentation was ‘United in Anger, United in War: Gender and Anti-slavery in Caribbean History’.
The two previous lectures, held at the same venue, were delivered on February 11 and February 28, 2013 respectively. The first lecture, titled ‘Britain’s Black Debt: reparations owed the Caribbean for Slavery and Indigenous Genocide’, was delivered by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Researcher at UWI’s Mona Campus, Jamaica. The second was delivered by internationally acclaimed historian, Guyana-born Professor Emeritus Dr. Alvin Thompson, who spoke on ‘The Horrors of Slavery and the Desire for Freedom’.
Among the distinguished gathering at the Umana Yana to hear Professor Shepherd’s lecture on Thursday were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, other senior officials of his ministry, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the University of Guyana, women’s organisations, students and other special guests.
The lectures which spoke about the significance of the uprising to Guyana and the wider Caribbean, made significant impact on those who were fortunate to have attended. And impressed with the presentations, they indicated their interest in having copies for future reference and enlightenment. In keeping with those requests, Dr. Anthony, in his brief remarks to the gathering on Thursday, committed to have the ministry prepare copies of the lectures for distribution.
Dr. Anthony said the Commemorative Lecture Series were organised by his ministry, in observance of the 250th Anniversary of the 1763 Berbice Slave Revolt, because the period is recognised as being very significant in Guyana’s history. “I think it is very important that we remember these milestones in our history and the significance of these uprisings to Guyana,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ministry also plans to arrange visits to the historical site of the 1763 Slave Revolt in Berbice. This is intended to allow Guyanese to get glimpses and be better able to connect emotionally with some of what took place there in 1763. “This will give us a broader perspective on the whole issue of slavery and how dehumanising it was,” Dr. Anthony said.
Anthony, on behalf of the ministry, also expressed gratitude to the three speakers for travelling here to facilitate the delivery of the lectures from which the Guyanese people have benefited tremendously.
Special anniversaries being observed in 2013:
* A special 250th Anniversary nationwide lecture series
* Launch of ‘The Berbice Uprising’, a book authored by A. J. Mc R. Cameron at the Umana Yana on February 20
* The opening of the 1763 Monument Information Centre on Vlissengen Road
* The release of a special ‘commemorative coin’ in observance of the 250th Anniversary of the Berbice Slave Revolt
* Mapping the geographical layout of the 1763 Berbice Revolt (UG)
* Constructing Heritage Markers at the 1763 Historical Sites
* International Conferences, Georgetown and New Amsterdam
* Staging historical plays
* Playwriting and essay competitions
* Assembling a 1763 bibliography (UG)
* Exhibitions: The Dutch Berbice 1763 and Glimpses of our Dutch Heritage at the National Museum with the support of Professor Rothman of the Archives of Benevolence and– The UNESCO Paris Mobile Slavery Exhibition
Meanwhile, the ministry has plans to take the exhibition to other institutions and regions of Guyana to give citizens an opportunity to be a part of the observances in commemoration of the historic milestone, Dr. Anthony said.
Special 250th Anniversary activities:
* 190th anniversary of the 1823 East Coast Slave Insurrection (Demerara War) in which some 200 African slaves were beheaded
* 180th Anniversary of the Passing of the British Emancipation Act of 1833
* 175 Anniversary of Emancipation
* 175th Anniversary of the Arrival of Indian Immigrants to Guyana
* 150th Anniversary of the Arrival of Chinese Immigrants
* 100th Anniversary of the Plantation Rose Hall Shooting
* 60th Anniversary of the First Election under Universal Adult Suffrage
* 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of the University of Guyana
The two previous lectures, held at the same venue, were delivered on February 11 and February 28, 2013 respectively. The first lecture, titled ‘Britain’s Black Debt: reparations owed the Caribbean for Slavery and Indigenous Genocide’, was delivered by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Researcher at UWI’s Mona Campus, Jamaica. The second was delivered by internationally acclaimed historian, Guyana-born Professor Emeritus Dr. Alvin Thompson, who spoke on ‘The Horrors of Slavery and the Desire for Freedom’.
Among the distinguished gathering at the Umana Yana to hear Professor Shepherd’s lecture on Thursday were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, other senior officials of his ministry, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the University of Guyana, women’s organisations, students and other special guests.
The lectures which spoke about the significance of the uprising to Guyana and the wider Caribbean, made significant impact on those who were fortunate to have attended. And impressed with the presentations, they indicated their interest in having copies for future reference and enlightenment. In keeping with those requests, Dr. Anthony, in his brief remarks to the gathering on Thursday, committed to have the ministry prepare copies of the lectures for distribution.
Dr. Anthony said the Commemorative Lecture Series were organised by his ministry, in observance of the 250th Anniversary of the 1763 Berbice Slave Revolt, because the period is recognised as being very significant in Guyana’s history. “I think it is very important that we remember these milestones in our history and the significance of these uprisings to Guyana,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ministry also plans to arrange visits to the historical site of the 1763 Slave Revolt in Berbice. This is intended to allow Guyanese to get glimpses and be better able to connect emotionally with some of what took place there in 1763. “This will give us a broader perspective on the whole issue of slavery and how dehumanising it was,” Dr. Anthony said.
Anthony, on behalf of the ministry, also expressed gratitude to the three speakers for travelling here to facilitate the delivery of the lectures from which the Guyanese people have benefited tremendously.
Special anniversaries being observed in 2013:
* A special 250th Anniversary nationwide lecture series
* Launch of ‘The Berbice Uprising’, a book authored by A. J. Mc R. Cameron at the Umana Yana on February 20
* The opening of the 1763 Monument Information Centre on Vlissengen Road
* The release of a special ‘commemorative coin’ in observance of the 250th Anniversary of the Berbice Slave Revolt
* Mapping the geographical layout of the 1763 Berbice Revolt (UG)
* Constructing Heritage Markers at the 1763 Historical Sites
* International Conferences, Georgetown and New Amsterdam
* Staging historical plays
* Playwriting and essay competitions
* Assembling a 1763 bibliography (UG)
* Exhibitions: The Dutch Berbice 1763 and Glimpses of our Dutch Heritage at the National Museum with the support of Professor Rothman of the Archives of Benevolence and– The UNESCO Paris Mobile Slavery Exhibition
Meanwhile, the ministry has plans to take the exhibition to other institutions and regions of Guyana to give citizens an opportunity to be a part of the observances in commemoration of the historic milestone, Dr. Anthony said.
Special 250th Anniversary activities:
* 190th anniversary of the 1823 East Coast Slave Insurrection (Demerara War) in which some 200 African slaves were beheaded
* 180th Anniversary of the Passing of the British Emancipation Act of 1833
* 175 Anniversary of Emancipation
* 175th Anniversary of the Arrival of Indian Immigrants to Guyana
* 150th Anniversary of the Arrival of Chinese Immigrants
* 100th Anniversary of the Plantation Rose Hall Shooting
* 60th Anniversary of the First Election under Universal Adult Suffrage
* 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of the University of Guyana
