1995: The 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians to Jamaica was celebrated across the island. Here is a re-enactment of a section of the journey.

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May 10, 1995, was celebrated as the 150th anniversary of the historic landing of the first Indian immigrants at Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine, by Indians living in Jamaica.

The 261 pioneers arrived on board the 'Blundell Hunter' and were processed by immigration officers after which they travelled to the Halse Hall and Mammee Gull estates where they had been contracted to work.

These Indians came to Jamaica because, with the abolition of the slave trade, labour became a serious problem on the sugar plantations in the island which, for the preceding 160 years or so, had been worked by African slave labour.

The former slaves saw land ownership as the surest route to independence and freedom from the estates and with the help of the non-conformist churches, sought to own their own piece of land. As a result, a programme of importing Indians as indentured labourers to replace these Africans was introduced. Since then, the Indians have achieved both social and economic mobility and they now hold proud positions in academia as well as in the professions and in business and commerce.

And like the Chinese, the Syrians and other ethnic groups, they brought with them many of their ethnic customs and traditions. For example, Indian cuisine has become a tasteful part of the Jamaican diet, with curried mutton, Indian style, as one of the favourite dishes.

Indians celebrate the 150th anniversary of the coming of the Indians to Jamaica