African immigrants: They arrived too

Yoruba farmer in British Guiana among his yam plants

By Cecilia McAlmont

 This was first published by Stabroek News on May 26, 2011 as part of the ‘History This Week’ series.

The month of May is designated arrival month with May 5 the most important day. It is the day in 1838 when the first group of East Indian immigrants landed in British Guiana from the ship Whitby under what came to be known as the ‘Gladstone Experiment.’

Guyanese are also aware that like the East Indians, Portuguese immigrants from Madeira and China arrived