October 12 is African Holocaust Day or Maafa Day. Maafa is a Kiswahili word meaning great disaster or tragedy. Usually in Guyana the occasion is observed at the Georgetown Seawall Bandstand and this year was no different. Though the rains threatened to pour, the drizzle did not dampen the spirit of the people who know that for our advancement we must stand firm in our identity, history must not be forgotten, and we must honour our ancestors.
On the way to the seawall the traffic was backed up on Main Street into High Street all the way to Pegasus. I quickly learned that it was the Prime Minister Hon. Mark Phillips and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Hon. Charles Ramson who were present.