Chinese Arrival Day 2019 observance for Region 3
DPI, Guyana, Monday, January 7, 2019
The 166th Anniversary of the arrival of the Chinese to Guyana will be celebrated at the Windsor Forest Primary School on Saturday, January 12 and in keeping with regular practice, the Association of Chinese Enterprise in Guyana has built a new school fence and recapped the school’s tarmac at an estimated cost of $3M. Additionally, the organization has donated several decorative plants to enhance the aesthetics of the school and repaired the school’s playground bleachers.
General Secretary of the association, Jason Wang told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the school is always included as part of their yearly budgetary spending,
“We have a track record of doing work at the school and that will continue as part of our duty. In 2013, we fixed the playground by doing some landfilling and we also built the two bleachers. We have maintained the bleachers and this year we rebuilt the fence and recapped the tarmac. Next year, we plan to do more to benefit the students and teachers. Last year, we donated some sports gears among other things. This village has a rich history for us as you may know the first President of this beautiful country Mr. Chung was from this village and the monument that recognizes our arrival to this country is erected right in this school compound, so we have a mandate to contribute here and we will fulfill that mandate,” said Jason Wang.
Regional Executive Officer, Jennifer Ferreira-Dougall expressed her appreciation for the work done and encouraged others within the business fraternity to join the association in fulfilling their corporate responsibility.
“The Chinese have always been our friend and we are thankful for the recent development at the Windsor Forest Primary School. The environment is now safer for our students and no longer will the teachers complain about flooding. Indeed, this village and school have a rich history for our Chinese brothers and sisters and really and truly I am extremely happy to know that they are assisting in bettering our community,” noted Ferriera-Dougall.
The Monument at Windsor Forest Primary School was erected in 1986 by the Guyana-China Friendship Society to commemorate the coming of the first Chinese immigrants to Guyana on the Glentanner from Amoy in China. They were all assigned to work on the West Coast Demerara at Windsor Forest (105), Pouderoyen (103) and Union (1). Nine had died on the journey to Guyana. From 1853-1879, a total of 13,541 Chinese, which comprised a diverse group who hailed from different regions, spoke different dialects and embraced different religious and cultural beliefs, from China, were scattered across the counties of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo. They were among the smallest group of indentured labourers brought to Guyana, and initially comprised only men.
Later, a small number of Chinese women were brought to serve as indentured labourers. On completion of their indentureship, many of them returned to China or emigrated to different parts of the Caribbean. Of the lot then remained, several of them became astute business operators and engaged in commercial pursuits, including becoming barbers and tradesmen.
Ganesh Mahipaul