Dear Editor,

I read with interest (21.11.2003) that the Anton de Kom University of Suri-name is organising a conference on Glo-balisation, Diaspora and Identity For-mation to be held at the Stardust Hotel in Paramaribo from February 27-29, 2004. The theme of the conference is "Globali-sation and Identity Formation: the Legacy of Slavery and Indentured Labour." It is my hope that the University of Guyana will participate in this conference which marks a milestone for the children of slavery and indentureship.

There needs to be a fervent moment in Guyana to reflect on the benefits that can be derived from a modernized National Archive using digital technology. Our neighbors to the east, Suriname, have already accomplished this feat. It was not the government of Suriname but its citizens coming from all walks of the society: religious, civic, political, academia, etc., that made this possible. The Surinamese are extremely progressive in documenting the history of their citizens, be it Javanese, Chinese, Africans, Hin-dustanis and Native Indians. So far they have digitized the immigration records of the Chinese, Javanese and Hindustanis, as well as the information on the former slaves of Suriname.

It is the Surinamese efforts in this respect that have inspired us to document the records of our ancestors using advanced digital technology. As director of Indenturedship Database Project (IDP), I have indicated to the government of Guyana our willingness to assist the archives in modernization, and we are waiting for their feedback. We heard Minister Teixeira's (I) call for wider preservation of archives(2) appealing to the public for help in this respect. We have recently written to the office of the President and to Ms. Teixeira requesting a meeting with them soon.

Guyanese who have Surinamese ancestors of Hindustani, Javanese or Chinese can find their ancestors' records at this site:

http://www.nationaalarchief.nl/suriname/

The Emancipation database currently contains information about those slaves living in Paramaribo (4320 names). During the course of this year, details of those in the other districts of Suriname (30,121 names) will also become available through the Nationaal Archief website. Visitors can search the database by the categories "Slaves", "Owners" and "Slaves and owners." If you find no "hits" on the name you enter, this is probably because the slave or family concerned was not living in Paramaribo in 1863 but in one of the other districts. On the website www.surinamistiek.nl/ Slavernijverleden you will find all the family names from plantations outside the capital. It may also be that the name you are looking for is that of a slave who was freed before 1863. A considerable number of these freed slaves, known as manumittees, can be found in the database Manumissions 1832-1863 (in Dutch only- this information was taken from the Emancipated Database).

History of about 34, 000 emancipated slaves of 1863 living in Paramaribo and more will be added in the coming years. Information on slaves, owners, plantations and emancipated slaves can be found at: http://www.nationaalarchief.nl/vrij-in-suriname/. Details of slaves living out side of Paramaribo can be found at:

http://www.surinamistiek.nl/slavernijverleden/

I'm curious to know if such information about slavery in Guyana exists. These are valuable primary sources of information that need to be preserved.

Yours faithfully,

Raymond Chickrie

Executive Director IDP-NY