Berbice : President Donald Ramotar called for unity for national development and urged Guyanese to take lessons from the 1763 revolt. The President made this call while addressing a gathering at State House at New Amsterdam, Berbice on the occasion of the launch of the that county’s commemorative activities for the 250th Anniversary of the 1763 Berbice Slave revolt and the 175th Anniversary of Emancipation.
Guyanese will observe Emancipation Day (Freedom day) this Thursday which is a National Holiday.
The 1763 revolt is regarded as a catalyst in propelling others in the Caribbean and the world, including the Haitian revolt.
President Ramotar noted that the Berbice slave uprising could have been like the Haitian revolution, had it not been for the fact that there was disunity among the leadership of the movement, in the course of the uprising.
The commemorative activities which will span two weeks (July 28 – August 11) are organised by COFONA-Council of Friends of New Amsterdam, an organisation geared towards developing New Amsterdam with support from other agencies within and outside of the community and region.
The activities include international presentations, panel discussions, and workshops, daily cultural and photographic displays, candle light vigil and a libation ceremony on the eve of Emancipation, followed by a heritage ball and an evening of drumming and poems for Cuffy’s children. They will run under the theme, “From Resistance through Emancipation, towards Empowerment.”
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