CULTURE, Youth & Sports Minister Dr. Frank Anthony yesterday awarded two recipients for their remarkable designs for coins commemorating the anniversaries of the Berbice Slave Rebellion (1763) and the Arrival of Indentured Immigrants to British Guiana (1838).At a press conference held on that ministry’s Main Street, Georgetown premises, Dr. Anthony said: “Today is a special day for the country with the unveiling of these two new coins,” denoting the abolishment of slavery for both the 1763 Slave Rebellion and the 1838
Indentureship. This competition, the minister disclosed, was first publicized last year during the period September to November (2012); and overall, “there were five participants, who were then short-listed by a panel of judges” who had gone through the designs and had selected two winners, namely Adrian Juman (1763 design) and Courtney Douglas (1838 design). Each winner received a total of $250,000.
Courtney Douglas, a former student of the Burrowes School of Art, disclosed that this was “the first major event” in which he had participated; and that during his tenure at the art school, he had been actively involved in numerous small competitions.
Adrian Juman is no stranger to the international scene, having won third place in the Coral Design Contest (2011). Dr. Anthony also commended the Bank of Guyana (BoG) for its continuous support of similar ventures. According to him, that institution has supported the Culture Ministry on numerous occasions.
The minister further mentioned that there would be lots of activities staged throughout the year to commemorate historic events.
