A representative of the Association for the Protection and Promotion of the Monuments of the 1823 East Coast Demerara Revolution has strongly rejected plans for sports development at the Parade Ground, declaring the site sacred and warning against what he described as continued disregard for African heritage.
In a statement issued on behalf of the association, Rev. Dr. Rudi R. Guyan said: “THERE WILL BE NO COMPROMISE! OUR FORE-PARENTS’ BODIES ARE BURIED ESPECIALLY UNDER THE SURFACES OF THE PROMENADE GARDENS, AND THE PARADE GROUND. THE PARADE GROUND IS NOT OPEN FOR USES AS A BALL FIELD. IT IS SACRED TO ALL AFRICANS. RACISM IN ANY OTHER DISGUISE IS STILL RACISM.”
The statement follows a community outreach meeting hosted by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson on March 18, 2026, at the Parade Ground, where plans for the construction of a sports pavilion and related facilities were discussed.
According to Guyan, who said he attended at the request of the association’s executive, the meeting lacked meaningful representation from African cultural organisations and was dominated by individuals with affiliations to the minister. He claimed many attendees were unaware of the historical and cultural concerns surrounding the site.
Guyan further alleged that the gathering appeared orchestrated, with what he described as “rent-a crowd” behaviour, including what he called “canned applauses” and prepared responses. He said he was tasked with documenting the proceedings and maintains he has video evidence of the interactions.
Central to the association’s objection is the proximity of the proposed pavilion to the 1823 East Coast Demerara Revolution Monument, which commemorates enslaved Africans who participated in the uprising. Guyan argued that the Parade Ground itself is historically an African burial site and should be treated with reverence.
He contended that the minister’s proposal to promote sports at the location, including the construction of spectator facilities and washrooms, disregards the site’s emotional, cultural, and spiritual significance.
Guyan also referenced a recent event near the 1823 monument at the Kitty seawall, where he said activities associated with dancehall entertainment led to what he described as the desecration of the monument’s space. He warned that similar outcomes could occur at the Parade Ground if the development proceeds.
“The Minister is bent on selling his ‘sports on the Parade Ground’ idea as a programme to accommodate the youths,” Guyan stated, while arguing that such development would ultimately lead to misuse of the historic space.
He further criticized what he described as a broader lack of historical awareness and critical thinking, particularly among younger Guyanese, suggesting that limited knowledge of African history has contributed to misunderstanding the significance of sites like the Parade Ground.
In his statement, Guyan also expanded his critique to issues of democracy and governance, arguing that public decision-making in Guyana lacks inclusive and reasoned engagement. He said, “True democracy depends on rational communication among citizens… The rule of the majority without the rule of public reason is another kind of tyranny.”
Additionally, he raised concerns about national identity, pointing to the omission of the word “Cooperative” from Guyana’s passport as an example of what he described as inconsistencies in national representation.
The association maintains that the Parade Ground—bounded by Waterloo, Carmichael, New Market and Quamina streets—should be formally recognised and preserved as an African burial ground and national monument, drawing parallels with the African Burial Ground in Lower Manhattan, New York.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has not yet publicly responded to the latest statements.
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See full statement below
THERE WILL BE NO COMPROMISE!
OUR FORE-PARENTS’ BODIES ARE BURIED ESPECIALLY UNDER THE SURFACES OF THE PROMENADE GARDENS, AND THE PARADE GROUND. THE PARADE GROUND IS NOT OPEN FOR USES AS A BALL FIELD. IT IS SACRED TO ALL AFRICANS. RACISM IN ANY OTHER DISGUISE IS STILL RACISM.
“True democracy depends on rational communication among citizens of a democratic polity geared to arrive at mutual understanding among citizens. A democracy should avoid two fatal flaws: (1) low-grade intelligence and (2) the tyranny of the majority. Popular sovereignty is that political power and authority belong to all citizens of a people, not just the majority of a people. The rule of the majority without the rule of public reason is another kind of tyranny.
“Democracy is not just about being together. It is about being together to progress, elevate, prosper, and pursue happiness. “
All of the above are missing in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (CRG), even as the Word, Cooperative is missing from our Passport which should be legally required, if we are to present our documents as upholding the truth of ourselves to all who may be concerned. According to our Passport, Guyanese are living in the Republic of Guyana, not Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
On Wednesday18 March, 2026, I attended a meeting hosted by the Honorable Charles S. Ramson, MP Minister (The Minister). of Culture Youth and Sport, Regent Four Community Outreach; Venue, Parade Ground. Time 5;30 P.M. I attended at the request of the Executive of the Association for the Protection and Promotion of the Monuments of the 1823 East Coast Demerara Revolution. In all respects, most of those attending the meeting exhibited the behaviour of a “rent-a crowd,” with the closest example of “canned applauses” at probably preplanned intervals. Those in attendance were told by The Minister that they were there as members invited from especially cultural groups from the communities.
I would further venture to say that none of those in attendance had any idea of the issues that generated objections to a pavilion being built on the Parade Ground, especially at the location where the frame of the pavilion now stands. Because the structure for the pavilion was erected without community consultation, factors such as cost, time, and other non-relevant community concerns erroneously found their way into the issue.
The Minister is bent on selling his “sports on the Parade Ground” idea as a programme to accommodate the youths in sport, by building a sports attendees’ pavilion and toilets on the Parade Ground, in close proximity of the 1823 East Coast Revolution Monument, which is built on the Parade Ground. Those basic amenities the minister feels, are so desirable, that there should be no reason for objections from those to whom the Parade Ground has deep emotional, cultural and spiritual connections.
But let us not dwell on what we would like, and let us look back just a few weeks ago. What has been clearly exhibited, is that given up to the building of sports and sports pavilions, the Parade Ground and its 1823 Monument would be subjected to the same abuse and disrespect as that of the 1823 Monument at the Sea Wall Kitty. The Minister being fully aware of the nature of the 1823 East Coast Revolution Monument (Monument) and its dedication to the African Martyrs, gave permission for its space to be violated or desecrated by the hosting of “Dance Hall” entertainment, with “Get-On-Bad” and “Drink-till-U-Drop,” expressed behaviours, and not to forget, at least two “porta-potty” within the fence of the Monument.
Our members know that it would be easy to predict the outcome of a permanent sports progamme on the Parade Ground. They are suggesting that anyone in doubt, should take a walk on Main Street Avenue especially at week-ends.
Reporting on the Minister’s meeting; it was evident that no representative from African cultural organisations was in attendance, except those invited on Wednesday 18 March, 2026 by 1823 Monument Association. As an official appointee by the Executive of the 1823 Monument Association, I was expected to record the proceedings of the meeting as accurate as possible.
What was clear was that most of those in attendance had some kind affiliation to the Minister. There were applauses when such behaviour was surely not appropriate. There was none in the Minister’s support group who knew anything about the Parade Ground. Furthermore, it seems as if they were primed to speak certain phrases and sentences, and they were anxious to say them whether they were relevant or not. I am able to say this because I have the evidence on video.
A typical example was when most of the crowd had moved towards the frame for the proposed pavilion. I made a general remark to the young adults that were nearby. I told them that when I was a “little boy,” I walked all around the city “bare-footed.” Without hesitation a young adult in a challenging manner told me that when Burnham was in government, he had no shoes but “after 1992” sic. he was able to wear slippers.
Another young adult after hearing that there may be a compromise in respect to moving the proposed pavilion some distance from the 1823 Monument, kept shouting in a sarcastic manner; If you move the pavilion, will the light post, be removed also?
There were other irrelevant comments made, that clearly show the need for critical thinking at all levels of the nation. However, it is the absence of knowledge of respective ethnic group’s history that is allowing for the manipulation of brains especially of our young adults.
I will close with a simple example. I would say that most Guyanese have heard the term Emancipation. Ask anyone who feel that he or she has some idea of Emancipation, and he or she would tell you that it is about freedom of African slaves, and the highest seats of Education in Guyana would agree. As what are the circumstances causing a presumable economic system such as the plantation to terminate itself, the answer given would be that those who wanted slaves to be freed, won. Rubbish! (my exclamation)
I have dealt with this issue in much details elsewhere. However, let logic dictate the outcome. In what year was the eight hundred thousand (800,000) Africans in the Caribbean and the British Guiana emancipated? It is written that the Emancipated Act was passed in 1833, and the Emancipation proclamation was passed on 1 August, 1834. Slavery on the 1 August, 1834 for Africans in the Anglo Caribbean and British Guiana came to an end.
In Guyana Emancipation is celebrated annually on 1 August, reminding all other ethnic group in Guyana that Africans were once slaves and they received freedom due to Emancipation.
Since history is not a subject taught in schools, it is believed (hoped) by the elites of respective ethnic groups that the truth of Emancipations will never be known.
Furthermore the Parade Ground which originally historically is bordered on the East by Waterloo Street, on the West by Carmichel Street, on the North by New Market Street, and on the South by Quamina Street, is in all respect an African Burial Ground National Monument, even as the area in the Civic Center section of Lower Manhattan, New Youk City where: “Historians estimate there may have been as many as 10,000[6]–20,000 burials in what was called the Negroes Burial Ground in the 18th century” is recognized as an African Burial Ground Monument. ( From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
HERE IS THE TRUTH OPEN TO ALL ETHNIC GROUPS TO BE ACQUAINTED WITH
“Slaves of Our History”
“The millions sold into servitude within India and abroad have been erased from our national memory, but they haunt our present, scarring our culture and polity.
“Few countries have been as thorough as India in erasing the savage memory of being a nation of slaves and slave-owners. There is not a single memorial to the hundreds of thousands trafficked to Central Asia; nor to the Indians enslaved by other Indians on the Kanara coast, or in Bihar”
Praveen Swami May 17, 2019 13:00:47 IST. POLITICAL NEWS FIRSTPOST. Firetpost.com
But what about Emancipation?
The Indian Slavery Act, 1843, also known as Act V of 1843, was an act passed in British India under East India Company rule which outlawed many economic transactions associated with slavery.
The act states how the sale of any person as a slave was banned, and anyone buying or selling slaves would be booked under the Indian Penal Code with an offence carrying strict punishment.
Implementation and effect:
Some East India Company officials opposed the act, citing Hindu and Muslim customs and maintaining the fact that the act would be seen as interference in traditional social structures.
FINALLY
Racism and prejudice and discrimination based on the pigmentation of the skin of a human being was originated in India more than 3000 years ago and became institutionalized, and culturally specific in what is known as the Indian Caste System. The Indian Caste System was partly adopted by the authors of the Bible story of Genesis and is known as the Curse of Ham, The Indian Caste System was also adopted by the Apartheid government of South Africa to be the model for social relationship, or social interactions, among racial and ethnic groups. (Rev. R. R. Guyan, Lecture on Religion, 1998. L.A. California, USA.)
