A 50-mile cycle road race has been organized to observe the 179 anniversary since the first set of East Indians arrived in Guyana.
It was on May 5, 1838, that 117 labourers arrived at Plantation Highbury on the East Bank of the Berbice River to begin their period of indenture on the colony.
On May 5, this year cyclist will race from New Amsterdam to Number 37 Village on the Corentyne before returning to the point of origin for the finish; covering a distance of 50-miles.
The race is being sponsored by the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) in association with Trojan/PSL Cycle Club.
The race is open to all cyclist and will peddle off from outside the of the BCCDA office at Main and Chapel Streets from 9:00h.
Prizes will be awarded to the first six finishers and for the first three juniors and first three veterans to complete the distance. As a bonus, eight sprint point prizes have been added to the package.
Meanwhile, juveniles and female cyclist will ride from Albion to the finish point on Main Street covering a distance of 14-miles. The top three in each category will be honored with prizes.
This is the second road race being organized by the Trojan cycle club which has since merged with a Trinidadian club. The first was held on July 28, 2013, a few weeks after the club was formed.
That race was won by Godfrey Pollydore while Junior Niles won the veteran category and Juban Crawford the Junior.
It was on May 5, 1838, that 117 labourers arrived at Plantation Highbury on the East Bank of the Berbice River to begin their period of indenture on the colony. (Andrew Carmichael)
