As part of the observance of Amerindian Heritage Month, the Amerindian Affairs Ministry honoured renowned Amerindian rights advocate Stephen Campbell on Thursday.
The ceremony, at the Umana Yana, paid tribute to the life and contributions of Campbell, the first Guyanese of Amerindian descent to enter the Legislative Council of then British Guiana.
A packed audience was treated to a variety of cultural performances, which included dancing, and songs and poetry performed in both native Amerindian dialects and English.
In her tribute, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai acknowledged that Campbell’s achievements and vision for the advancement of the Amerindians earned him a place in Guyanese history. She said Campbell was a selfless and charismatic leader who dedicated his life to helping to improve those of his fellow Amerindians; and promoting development, especially in lobbying for roads between remote Amerindian communities.
She added that his efforts were supported by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), and the administration has continued this legacy by its determination not to allow remoteness to stagnate the development of Amerindian communities.
Campbell also advocated for land rights for Amerindians, and many communities today hold titles to their lands.
Amerindians today are responsible for crafting their own strategy for development.
Minister Sukhai noted that many of Campbell’s dreams have become reality, such as Amerindians having access to education, healthcare, improved infrastructure, transportation, and communication facilities.
She said that government is committed to working with elected Amerindian leaders and residents to completely realise Campbell’s vision.
Campbell, the visionary Campbell was born, in the Moruca sub- district of Region One, on December 26, 1819 to parents who both died when he was at a tender age, leaving him in the care of his grandmother. He was a student of the Santa Rosa Mission School and someone who had a passion for learning in his early life.
In 1928, Campbell got married at the age of 31, and migrated to various locations in Regions One, Two, Seven, and Nine, where he was involved in teaching, road construction, gold min ing, rubber tapping, fishing, and tree spotting. His political will, however, was aroused during his tenure at the Waini sawmill, where Amerindians and other sections of the Guyanese population were seeking representation.
With the proposal of Universal Adult Suffrage in 1951, this gave the Amerindians the opportunity to participate in general elections, and Campbell began to show keener interest in politics. April 27, 1956 marked the first time in the history of Guyana that Amerindians were allowed to exercise their franchise; and the following year, Campbell, at the age of 60, was elected to the Legislative Council of British Guiana.
He subsequently joined the National Labour Front (NLF) and became the first Amerindian to contest the general elections in British Guiana. This historical event was the turning point in Campbell’s life, which was influenced by a sense of duty towards the Amerindian people.
“In the year 1957, I entered politics at the request of the Amerindians, who felt that they had no one to represent their interests in the central government,” Campbell later said.
Among his greatest achievements were the move towards crafting the Amerindian Act, and developing better health facilities, a postal service, and agriculture in the North West District. Campbell died on May 12, 1966, two weeks before British Guiana gained independence from Britain.
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