Indians celebrate at Heritage Square

Celebrations to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first set of East Indians to this country continued at Heritage Square on Wednesday, June 1,{{more}} with the staging of a rally.

The event also featured a series of cultural performances from groups such as the Assam Group of India and The Matilda Dynamics from Princess Town, Trinidad and Tobago.

Indo-Vincentians, as well as other members of the public, were also entertained by female vocalist Lily John, organist and vocalist Baal John, and drummer Roy Sohan Jaglal from the twin island Republic.

Surujdeo Mangaroo, President of the Indo-cultural Union of the Caribbean and the Americas, and Dr. Winston Tolan of the National Council for Indian Culture in Jamaica, were also in attendance.

Frederick Stephenson, Minister of Culture, lauded the Indian Heritage Foundation for the work done to ensure that the Indo-Vincentian culture is preserved here.

“Five years is not a long time, but in that time you have done tremendous work,” Stephenson said.

The East Indian descendants within the Caribbean ancestors came to the region during the period of indentured labour, which, according to Stephenson, was not an easy time.

He said the few that decided to stay on in St. Vincent and the Grenadines now reside primarily in the South Windward region of the country.

He went on to salute the contribution that the East Indian community has made to the development of the nation and singled out H.E Cenio Lewis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ High Commissioner to London.

Mangaroo also commented on the significance of last week’s

event.

“This is a significant milestone in the lives of the Hindu-Vincentian people,” he said.

Trinidad and Tobago recently celebrated the 166th anniversary of

the arrival of East Indians to that country; Guyana celebrates 173 years this year; and Suriname has had an East Indian presence for 153 years.

According to Mangaroo, this country’s anniversary was quite an achievement.

President of the Indo-cultural Union of the Caribbean and the Americas, he said that last Wednesday’s event was an example of the type of linkages that his organisation was willing to establish.

“The best way to appreciate each other in this world is to understand where we come from,” he explained.

He borrowed a quote from the Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, who, during that country’s Indian arrival day celebrations, said that the Caribbean people came from several ships, but that we are now going around in one boat – one Caribbean boat.