Beryl
Almarales, Researcher, Santa Rosa Carib Community
THE
EDITOR: The trend in our country is
to celebrate the arrival of some of our ancestors and the emancipation of
others. I say others because although Emancipation Day originally marked the
freedom of our African ancestors, today it includes other racial groups who
were freed from the shackles of their masters.
Unfortunately,
we do not hear much of the indigenous people who were here before the arrival
of Columbus and other ethnic groups. The members of the Santa Rosa Carib
Community have therefore decided to establish a research centre at our
headquarters on Paul Mitchell Street, Arima, and to mark the 500 anniversary of
the arrival of Columbus on our shores with the opening of this centre.
We
firmly believe that our research centre will be beneficial to all who seek
information on our indigenous ancestors.
We
have had visitors from such places as Sweden, Australia, Canada, Venezuela,
Guyana and Dominica, as well as students from primary and secondary schools,
from the university at St Augustine and the University of Adelaide, Australia,
seeking information on our indigenous heritage. At the moment, the University
of Adelaide is engaged in an anthropological field project with the Santa Rosa
Carib Community.
Unfortunately,
our displays are insufficient and we are using this media to request assistance
from those interested in anthropology and history to help establish this
research centre which will not only be educational but will also be an asset to
the tourist industry as it can be included in the list of interesting
historical places.
We
also welcome suggestions from the public and donations of such items as display
boards and any other material which will make our venture successful. Those
wishing to support the establishment of a research centre of our Amerindian
heritage can contact any of the following members of the committee.
R
Hernandez Bharath - 667-0210; E Reyes - 626-7385; J Khan - 667-27065; B
Almarales -667-2139.
Thanking
you in advance on behalf of the Santa Rosa Carib Community.
B.
ALMARALES, Arima.