ANOTHER eight Indo-Guyanese, including Harry Mattai, Managing Director of N&S Mattai, Pravinchandra Dave, CEO of the Demerara Bank Limited and renowned Guyanese jeweler, L. Seepersaud Maraj, were honoured on Sunday at the Indian Monument Garden at the annual Pushpanjali 19.

Organised by the Indian Commemoration Trust (ICT), the event was held to mark the arrival of the first set of Indian indentured labourers on May 5, 1838. It was one of several events held on Sunday to celebrate Arrival Day in Guyana.

Aside from Mattai, Dave and Maraj, others honoured were Purshotam Shivraj, honoured for his work in the field of education; Christopher Mahendranauth Persaud, for his work in the field of business and entrepreneurship; Dr Leslie Persaud, for his dedicated service saving lives; and ICT committee members Khainwattie Panchu and Heidi Nadira Dalip for their long and dedicated service in the development of the ICT.

Six of those honoured received awards, while Maraj received a plaque on the memorial wall in the front of the gardens. The ceremony which included a fanfare of cultural performances with Indian dance and song, was attended by the Indian High Commission to Guyana, V Mahalingam, and Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine, and many government and opposition politicians among other dignitaries.

The evening opened with a multi-religious invocational dance representing all three of Guyana’s main religions: Christian, Hindu and Muslim. All three religions were also represented in prayer.