Challenges must be confronted with firmness - Minister Persaud
 -at largest IAC Mela in Berbice

Georgetown, GINA, May 6, 2007

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud joined thousands at the Indian Arrival Committee’s (IAC) annual Mela at Albion Sports Complex, Berbice on May 5, where he urged Indo-Guyanese to ensure that the struggles of their ancestors were not in vain, pointing to the need for Guyanese to confront challenges. 
“We live in times when there are challenges and opportunities and we have to confront the challenges by being inspired by the hard work, the resilience, lessons of our ancestors and also we must embrace the opportunities so that we can build a Guyana that is getting freer every day.”

A section of the large gathering

He said, “I urge you my brothers and sisters as we mark this 170th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians. We must confront the challenges with a degree of firmness.”
Guyanese were urged not to back down, but to see issues such as crime and the rising cost for food as an occasion to show their true strength.
            The large gathering estimated at around 25,000 was reminded of the efforts made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government to enable a free and prosperous society. This, the Agriculture Minister said, must be done through unity.
“For us to have prosperity and for us to have real freedom we must have unity... Our government and the People’s Progressive Party have always represented through our work and policies to see that Guyana is one where there is prosperity, unity and freedom.”

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud during his address to the gathering

Arrival Day was first celebrated in Guyana in 2004 and it is to honour the arrival of Chinese, Portuguese and East Indians, to Guyana’s foreshores, all during the month of May.
In May most immigrants came to Guyana as Indentured labourers. The East Indians came on May 5, 1838 aboard the ships, the HMS Hesperus and the HMS Whitby.
“I think by your large numbers this evening indicate how much you value our foreparents and also the work and contributions that Indo-Guyanese have made and you have all reasons to be proud of that great heritage and that great ancestry and I would like to applaud the many thousands who are here in Albion.”
The IAC mela at Albion was by far the largest of the three melas held with the other two at Anna Regina, Essequibo and the National Park, Georgetown.

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