One year after being open-ed to the general public, the Indian Immigration Monument, located at Palmyra Village, East Berbice, directly opposite the entrance to the Berbice River Bridge, has become a popular location for locals and visitors.
Last year, a grand ceremony was held at the monument site to mark Indian Arrival Day, observed on May 5. Stabroek News was told that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no activity planned for the site this year.
However, the monument’s compound, which has several fountains, a playground, a visitor’s gallery and guard hut, has been weeded and cleaned.
This newspaper was told that the monument is the responsibility of the National Trust, and noticeably over the past year the compound has been cleaned several times.
While initially persons had questioned why the monument was not placed at Highbury Village, East Bank Berbice, the location where the first Indians arrived, over the last year it has become the go-to place for wedding day photoshoots.
Parents in the afternoons also take their children to visit the monument and make use of the playground, while others also visit to exercise and take in the scenery.
Last year, the Indian Immigration Monument was completed in February at an overall cost of $160 million.
At the official opening of the monument, President David Granger said, “The Indian Arrival Monument recalls the Indian indentured experience. It celebrates the migrants’ resistance, resilience and resourcefulness. It attests to the immigrants’ sacrifices, struggle and the pursuit of a good life.
“Indians have made indelible contributions to the nation’s cultural, economic, political and social development. These contributions have ensured the community’s progress and has advanced the nation’s development”.
In March of 2017, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, together with the then Indian High Commissioner, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, had unveiled a signboard depicting the monument at the chosen Palmyra location.
Nagamootoo, during that unveiling ceremony, had told the media that $97 million had been allocated for the building of the structure upon which the monument would be placed.
Initiated under the former Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the base for the US$150,000 bronze sculpture, a gift from the Government of India, crumbled in April, 2017 while Phase 2 works were ongoing, in a bid to meet the May 5th Indian Arrival Day observances that year.
It was said that 85% of works by the Linden-based company was completed at the time of the collapse.
The project for the base was later re-awarded to Raffik and Sons Construction, which is headed by Berbice businessman Mohammed Raffik. The contract which was given to Raffik was worth some $23 million.
Meanwhile, President of the Berbice Indian Cul-tural Committee Chandra Sohan indicated to Stabroek News that a smaller than usual programme was scheduled for Highbury, East Bank Berbice, yesterday.
Every year hundreds of Guyanese attend a cultural programme at Highbury to celebrate the arrival of the first Indians.
