The PNCR says it has always been conscious of the importance of all the ethnic or religious groups to Guyanese society and while it would support a holiday to mark Indian Arrival Day, its leader, Robert Corbin believes that it is an issue on which there should be the widest consultation.
Corbin’s remarks were a reaction to the sentiments expressed by President Bharrat Jagdeo on April 27 at the Indian Arrival Day Committee-sponsored Cultural Mela at the Everest Cricket Ground. Jagdeo said, “The PPP/Civic would definitely support a motion to have an Arrival/Indentureship Day in Guyana.”
A government spokesman later told Stabroek News that the government is yet to decide whether it would support a specific holiday for Indian Arrival or one Arrival Day which recognised the arrival of all the various groups in society.
Corbin said that the parliamentary committee, which is to look at this matter, has not even started its work. A motion in the name of the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Reepu Daman Persaud, is seeking the parliament’s approval.
Corbin said that it was the party’s recognition of the importance of the various groups that inspired its move to have the various important religious days declared public holidays.
GAP/WPA Sheila Holder and ROAR’s Ravi Devi support the declaration of May 5 as a holiday to mark Indian Arrival Day.
Holder explained that she would support such a declaration if it would contribute to increasing the sense of belonging of the Indians to this society and ease their insecurity but would expect that the Indians should be willing to extend the same treatment to other groups.
She said the absence of proper leadership had led to the various groups fighting for the recognition of their individual contributions to the society.
Dev said his party had always advocated that a national holiday should be declared to mark Indian Arrival Day.
The Indian Arrival Committee and the Guyana Indian Heritage Association have been in the vanguard of the movement to have Indian Arrival Day declared a public holiday.