– Pres. Granger reminds celebrants of the 1823 Demerara Revolt

“FREEDOM was not an imperial gift but was won through the sacrifice and the martyrdom of ancestors,” President David Granger said Monday.

He did so as he reflected on the more than 200 enslaved Africans who were killed during the 1823 Demerara Revolt.

President Granger on Monday joined Ministers of Government, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, and Guyanese, particularly the residents of Bachelor’s Adventure to commemorate the 1823 Demerara Revolt during a ceremony at the Demerara Revolt Monument at Atlantic Avenue.

Delivering the keynote address, President Granger turned backed the pages of history as he painted a clear picture of the revolt and the events that followed.

Involving more than 11,000 Africans across more than 55 plantations along the East Coast of Demerara, President Granger said the Demerara Revolt degenerated into a massacre when the British West India Regiment and other forces deployed to quell the revolt, opened fire upon on a group of 2,000 Africans at Bachelor’s Adventure, slaughtering more than 200 of them at one go.

“The rebels were pursued along the East Coast Demerara; brought to hasty drumhead trials, most lasting a few minutes; found guilty on the basis of flimsy evidence, and sentenced to executions and floggings,” President Granger said.

“Those sentenced to death were tied to trees and shot immediately. Their corpses were laid side by side on the ground, decapitated, and their heads placed on poles on the public roads in front of the plantations of the East Coast,” he told those gathered for the memorial.

He said that while a formal court martial was convened in Georgetown on August 25, 1823 under Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Arthur Goodman, public executions took place on the Militia Parade Ground, on Middle and Carmichael Streets, South Cummingsburg, now known as Independence Park.

FLAME OF FREEDOM

President Granger, who read History while at university, said that though the 1823 Demerara Revolt was suppressed, it ignited the flame of freedom. Here in Guyana, he said, August 20 is designated ‘Demerara Martyrs Day’ in homage of the victims of the Demerara Revolt, and he wants all Guyanese to understand and appreciate sacrifice made to acquire freedom.

“I urge Guyanese to continue to commemorate this event. I urge future generations to remember that freedom was bought at the high price of the martyrdom of hundreds of Africans on August 20, 1823,” he pleaded.

Sports and Cultural Activist, Aaron Blackman said during his presentation that Monday marked the 195TH Anniversary of the 1823 Demerara Revolt.

“One-hundred-and-ninety-five years ago our forefathers said enough was enough and downed tools and declared their freedom from slavery, a feat that came 60 years after the revolt that was staged by Cuffy in the County of Berbice,” Blackman said.
Using the opportunity to renew calls for ancestral lands to be returned to the people of

Bachelor’s Adventure, the activist said:
“On behalf of the people of Bachelor’s Adventure, I am happy to take this opportunity to renew their call for their backlands that were stolen to be returned. We shall continue to struggle to retain our land that was gifted to us through a sealed Licence of Occupancy granted by the imperial Crown of the British Empire in the year 1838 to the landowners of Bachelor’s Adventure as compensation.

“This offer was made mainly due to the atrocity committed on these grounds where hundreds of our ancestors were slaughtered on that plantation.”

CALL TO ORGANISE
In moving forward, Blackman said that Afro-Guyanese must organise socially, culturally, economically, politically and spiritually to be respected by other people.

“Agriculture remains our pillar towards economic empowerment. Soon, all-weather roads should be taking us into our farmlands of African Guyanese villages,” he posited, while emphasising the need to be vigilant where work is undertaken by contractors within communities to improve infrastructure.

He noted that Christian churches located within Afro-Guyanese communities must play a more pivotal role in empowering young people, both socially and economically. He stressed that young people must be given the opportunity to experience immediate moderate transformation.

“Youth-friendly spaces to effect youth development in every village now becomes a greater priority, as has always been the case,” Blackman said, adding:
“These centres must be managed by young people. We have for years treated our sports and cultural industry with scant respect, resulting in mediocrity and underdevelopment of an industry that remains most untapped, unprotected yet full of potential to be harnessed and marketed locally and internationally.”

He also called for greater attention to be placed on the education sector, noting that technology must be capitalised upon to advance the sector.

Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, other Ministers of Government, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Barton Scotland, Members of the Diplomatic Community, Regional Officials, representatives from ACDA, and residents of Bachelor’s Adventure were among those present.