Port Mourant held its 2023 annual reunion last Saturday afternoon August 5 at Roy Wilkins Park. For the last several decades, there was/has been an annual Port Mourant Day in summer in Queens allowing those who once dwelled in Port Mourant to meet and reminisce and renew acquaintances in the USA.
Port Mourant is located in Corentyne, Berbice. It is the largest village in Guyana in terms of population. At one time, it had over 20K people. It was named after the British. It was a colonial plantation where slaves labored on the large estate producing sugar. After the abolition of slavery, indentured Indian slaves were introduced in 1938. The Indians came from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu. Port Mourant became the most productive sugar estate in Guyana. It was also a rice-producing village. Tens of thousands of Port Mourant people migrated to the UK, USA, Canada, and other countries.
Many prominent Indian Guyanese came from Port Mourant including the father of the Guyanese nation, Dr Cheddi Jagan, cricketers Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kalicharran, Joe Solomon, Basil Butch, among others.
The reunion featured karaoke singing, deejay music of Bollywood songs and popular chatney, food, sporting events including a bag race, and other entertainment. Prizes were given out to winners of sporting events. There was also a raffle with prizes sponsored by the business community.
It was a fantastic day of activities and entertainment. The organizers are commended for their commitment and for staging a great event.
