The Civil Society Committee for the International Year for People of African Descent last Friday evening officially launched observance of the year at the Girl Guides Pavilion on Brickdam, on Friday evening, January 7th.
The committee ushered in the year, and launched its programme of activities on the evening. Among those present were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette, and Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green.
The committee will now proceed to carry out the activities, which include an event for each month. Some of these activities include hosting the conference of African leaders in January, and educational information on Black History Month on television stations and in the newspapers in February. The committee also plans to observe Damon Day in Essequibo in April.
President of the committee, Noah Yahshuarun, told Guyana Times International it is important that the UN has set aside a year which will see Afro-Guyanese being fully integrated and participating in all aspects of the economic, cultural, social, civil and political life of Guyana. “We see this as reparation,” he stated, while pointing to the many struggles and hardships African slaves have had to endure.
Earlier this year, the Guyana government set up the 30-member steering committee to ensure that the International Year of People of African Descent is staged successfully. Chaired by Culture Director Dr James Rose, the committee comprises persons from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten, and from various non-governmental organisations. Some $32.6 million has been set aside to ensure the planned activities are successfully executed.
Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony, late last month, told the National Assembly that there are plans to construct a monument to commemorate the Demerara Slave Revolt of 1823. A design competition, which will be evaluated by a panel, will serve as the basis for selection of the monument design.
The culture minister has also disclosed agreed plans to stage several exhibitions throughout the year, with a permanent one set for the Museum of African Heritage, as well as a mobile exhibition that will visit communities countrywide. Some of the country’s prominent scholars will also hold lecture series at least once a quarter, with local conferences being staged as well.
The minister said: “The government of Guyana is fully cognisant of the tremendous contributions that people of African descent have made in the development of Guyana, the Caribbean, and the wider world.”
On December 18, 2009, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year beginning January 1, 2011 the International Year for People of African Descent.
The year aims to strengthen national actions and regional and international cooperation for the benefit of people of African descent in relation to their full enjoyment of economic, cultural, social, civil and political rights; their participation and integration in all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society; and the promotion of a greater knowledge of, and respect for, their diverse heritage and culture.
The United Nations General Assembly encouraged member states, civil society and the specialised agencies of the United Nations system, to, within their respective mandates and existing resources, make preparations for and identify possible initiatives that can contribute to the success of the year.
Guyanese of African descent have made tremendous contributions to the country’s economic, cultural and social development.
