By Samuel Whyte
Fitness Instructor, Sports Organizer, Community Activist and Founder of the Unity for the Nation Organization, Eli Hazel on Sunday July 31 fulfilled a promised he made to re-live some aspects of slave life, by conducting a ‘Shackle Walk’ (Bound in Chains) around the town of New Amsterdam in observance of Emancipation.
Hazel bounded and dressed like a slave began his journey at around 15:00hrs from under the Canje Bridge. He stated that he undertook the activity so as far as possible to re-live the way the slaves lived during that time and experienced the pain and struggles his fore parents experienced during those days. He also choose that particular journey so as to retrace the journey the slaves undertook when they came to Berbice and were off loaded at Fort Canje.
Dressed like a slave, he began his journey from under the Canje Bridge from where he said the slave ships were docked and the slaves offloaded. From there shackled in chains with his bare back exposed to the boiling sun and a stick across his back the man journeyed up the main road turned into Garrison Road and into Winkle where some of the slaves settled. Winkle was where the higher class slaves including the tradesmen settled.
From there Hazel journeyed to Lot 40 Stanleytown to the residence of 96 yr old Claude Tate one of the oldest descendants of African slaves in New Amsterdam. Accompanied by drummers and well wishers his journey then took him up the main road to the Mission Chapel Congregational Church at Main and Chapel Street New Amsterdam. There he and his entourage were met by some Majorettes who accompanied him to the church. At Mission Chapel Church Hazel was met by Pastor Tyrone Sulker, there they had a refreshing experience of meeting under the Tamarind tree, the former meeting place of the slaves for various purposes including Classes and Church.
From there Hazel, a former policeman and now a security Officer with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, continued his journeyed up the main road into Vryheid Street and then finally ending at the Esplanade Park.
The man said that he felt satisfied that he completed the journey. He felt that it was something fitting to do, because of its history and significance of the occasion. In doing the activity at this time he stated helps to show the significance of Emancipation.