The International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana joins with all Guyanese and all nations around the world in celebrating this day, the first International Day for People of African Descent. In doing so we call on the government and people of Guyana to recognize the invaluable contributions of African Guyanese to the creation of this nation. We demand acknowledgment and redress for historic and continuing injustices that cause harm to African Guyanese and stand in the way of attainment of our fullest potential in all areas of our society.

We recognize and appreciate the long struggle that has led to this day – – an outcome of decades long efforts to advance the outcomes of the Durban UN World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (UNWCAR). We are pleased that this day also comes on the heels of the welcome news that the 193-member body unanimously adopted a resolution establishing the United Nations Permanent Forum of People of African Descent (https://www.un.org/en/observances/decade-people-african-descent/permanent-forum), a 10-member advisory body that will work closely with the Geneva Human Rights Council. This Permanent Forum stands as global recognition of the historic and continued crimes against people of African Descent and calls on all nations to establish policies and programmes of redress and restoration in keeping with the Durban Programme of Action.

IDAPDA-G stands ready to build on its work within the African Guyanese community and to collaborate with all fair-minded Guyanese to achieve an equitable and just society for all. Our work is guided by our mandate – The realization of recognition and justice, and the achievement of sustainable development for Guyanese of African Descent through advocacy, guidance, capacity building and leadership in the spheres of economics, employment, equity, and expiation with special attention to the youth.

Our Strategic Plan for the Decade follows in the wake of our Ancestors’ successes in the immediate aftermath of Emancipation and Apprenticeship, when with pooled resources, they bought abandoned plantations from their former captors, moved away from the plantation, and with great initial success built the foundations of thriving African-Guyanese villages and a peasant economy.

As we observe International Day for People of African Descent Assembly Guyana, we call for the Recognition, Justice, and Development for People of African Descent in Guyana.