Today [April 18, 2017] marks the centenary of the arrival of the last batch of immigrants from India, mainly indentured labourers. They arrived in Guyana on April 18, 1917 aboard the Coolie Ship s.s. GANGES.
This occasion has been highlighted by the Indian Action Committee [IAC] which revealed that those who arrived included a total of 437 persons including 268 males, 130 females and 39 infants. They were distributed among 24 sugars estates in Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo.
It was pointed out that of the total, 124 persons embarked at Calcutta (Kolkata) while 313 embarked at Madras (Chennai).
These immigrants were allotted to the following sugar estates: (1) Skeldon -15; (2) Springlands-15; (3) Port Mourant-26; (4) Albion-19; (5) Rose Hall-16; (6) Providence (EBB)-15; (7) Mara- 10; (8) Blairmont-19; (9) Bath -15; (10) Cane Grove-26; (11) Hope- 21; (12) Enmore-19; (13) Nonpariel-28 ; (14) Lusignan-23; (15) Mon Repos-19; (16) La Bonne Intention-19; (17) Ogle-16; (18) Diamond-2; (19) Uitvlugt-24; (20) De Kinderen-21; (21) Marionville (Wakenaam)-16; (22) Golden Fleece-16; (23) Anna Regina-19; (24) Hampton Court-18.
Immigrants who boarded at Calcutta were allotted to the following eight plantations: Springlands, Providence, Blairmont, Bath, Lusignan, Ogle, Diamond and Anna Regina.
Immigrants who boarded were allotted to the following 16 plantations: Skeldon, Port Mourant, Albion, Rose Hall, Mara, Cane Grove, Hope, Enmore, Nonpariel, Mon Repos, La Bonne Intention, Uitvlugt, De Kinderen, Marionville (W), Golden Fleece and Hampton Court.
The IAC regards this day as an important anniversary in the history of Guyana which marks the end of to this form of trading in humans to Guyana’s shores. The British Government had brought to an end the emigration of indentured labourers from India on March 12, 1917.
Moreover, the IAC urges all Guyanese “to remember our ancestors who perished as well as those who survived the arduous journey and made Guyana their home. They worked, struggled and sacrificed with other groups to build our country and realized its freedoms.”