Government lost opportunity to promote unity on May 5
-PNCR
Stabroek News
May 10, 2004
The PNCR said that it is saddened and disappointed, but not surprised, by the continued "partisanship and divisiveness" of the PPP/C's attempt to rewrite history and that government lost another opportunity to promote national unity with the May 5 Arrival Day.
Speaking at the party's press conference held at Congress Place, Sophia on Thursday, PNCR member Deryck Bernard said that the PPP/C uses "front" organisations for political objectives rather than promoting a truly national celebration of the event.
According to the PNCR, when it was in government it pioneered the public and state celebration of this event. It said that Arrival Day was celebrated as a holiday in Guyana in 1988 on the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Guyana.
Bernard noted that the celebration in 1988 was a spectacular affair which saw the participation of a 250-member troupe from India headed by that country's then Vice-President Shankar Dayal Sharma.