REGION Six Chairman David Armogan has made an emotional plea for unity in Guyana.Addressing hundreds gathered at Plantation Highbury, East Bank Berbice to observe the Arrival of East Indian indentured labourers to the shores of the then British Guiana on May 5, 1838, Armogan said: “Today we have religious and cultural tolerance, but one of our biggest problems during the pre- and post-Independence era is racial and political disharmony. That is something we have to solve.”

Earlier, persons re-enacted the arrival of the first batch of Indian indentured labourers who had come to British Guiana 178 years ago onboard the Whitby. Among those viewing this enactment were Indian High Commissioner Venkatachalam Mahalingam; Director of Tourism, Indranauth Haralsingh; Alliance For Change (AFC) executive member Charrandass Persaud; Chairman of the Berbice Indian Committee, Chandra Sohan; Former parliamentarian Ravi Dev, and other dignitaries who had made the annual pilgrimage to the site.

The arrival of the East Indians resulted in fusion and diversity of a multi-ethnicity and multicultural society which Guyanese have emerged to be today. Armogan reminded those present that the ancestors had looked out for each other, but he said that is not the case today.

“The colonial masters (have) taught us to hate each other, so as to keep us divided. But Guyana can only develop if we are unified. Our politicians need to put away the dishonourable hatred and be mature people…the writing is on the wall…we have come a long way,” Armogan declared.

He reminded the audience of the struggles of their ancestors, who remained a proud and steadfast people in times of adversity.

“While we celebrate, we must not forget the others who came to Guyana: the Africans, the Chinese and the Portuguese. We must continue to build and develop Guyana, so the future generations can benefit,” he admonished.

Also speaking at the forum was former Parliamentarian Ravi Dev, who took the audience through the history that led to the arrival of East Indians, and their continuous struggles within the rice and sugar industries.