Guyanese-Bajan Mix up
Guyanese nationals in Barbados remember independence date with picnic
Guyana Chronicle
June 6, 2004
THE biggest crowd so far at the Guyana Consulate’s annual picnic held over the last ten years enjoyed themselves with traditional Guyanese and Bajan foods and an equally interesting mix of cultural entertainment.
Despite the heavy overcast showers, nearly 200 people turned out at the venue the BAYWATCH Beach Bar on scenic Browne’s Beach just outside the capital Bridgetown, on the Sunday before Independence Day.
Highlight of the day was the cultural show featuring singer Mohanie `Jenny’ Gadhadhar and her group, the Barbadian dance troupe Dance Nationale Afrique, a tuk band and performance poetry from AJA and Ricky Parris. A birthday cake was cut.
The first prize in the raffle, a trip for two to Guyana, was won by Guyanese–Barbadian Nichola Belgrave.
Other prizes included a dinner for two at the Grand Barbados Beach Resort where the Guyana Trade Show was held earlier this year.
Theme of the picnic this year was `Go-Guyana-Spread the word!’ explained Guyana’s Honorary Consul Norman Faria: “We felt, as in the case with other diplomatic and consular missions, that there should be a development linkage. Guyana’s tourist sector is growing. While we encourage Guyanese nationals in Barbados to help build up Barbados tourism, we also urge them to spread the word about Guyana as a wonderful tourist destination. In that vein, aside from the trip by LIAT, the Consulate also made a recognition gesture to the Tourist Agents Association of Barbados (TAAB) for the work over the years in promoting Guyana.”
About the Bajan component, Consul Faria remarked: “I think we want to get away from Guyanese boxing themselves in their newly adopted homeland Barbados. We have to fully integrate into Barbadian society and join with longer established residents in their trade and credit unions, churches and other organisations to make the island an even better place to live. Of course, for the foreseeable future, we still remember our roots and Independence Day is a most significant occasion”.
Faria praised the Barbadian governments over the years for welcoming Guyanese both as residents and contract workers, and said that a recent spate of adverse commentary on the radio phone-in programmes about Guyanese in Barbados was not representative of the Barbadian people.
Touching on some of the reports made to the Consulate, Faria said the Guyana Government would not stand idly by and permit Guyanese nationals get ripped off by “immigration consultants and other intermediaries”.
Guyanese contract workers were also urged to join a trade union of their choice and not be tempted by exploitative employers to undermine the hard fought gains of their Barbadian comrades, Faria said in remarks to the gathering.