ALTHOUGH some individuals in Guyana are promoting disharmony and encouraging conflict among our diverse population, overseas-based Guyanese are celebrating their diversity coming together at various events relating to their nation or national cultural festivals. Recently, overseas-based Guyanese from different races and religions got together to celebrate independence. We should all be proud, regardless of ethnic background, when our people come together to celebrate multi-cultural activities in distant places like New York, Toronto, and Barbados. The fact we can come together to celebrate the culture of one another in foreign places suggests we can also get together at home to build a nation rather than focus on petty issues or ethnic differences that tear apart the nation and hinder development. Celebrating diversity as happened in the U.S. should be encouraged in efforts to help build a better Guyana.

The many Guyanese festivals, as observed in overseas locations with large numbers of Guyanese, provide opportunities for the varied races to explore, understand and appreciate their cultural diversity. At the Guyana Day Festivals (to mark independence day) in Toronto, New York, and Barbados, there were a variety of presentations reflecting the cultural presence of the various races in our beloved country. Performers strutted their stuff with elegance and grace. They were appreciated. In NY, at the independence day celebrations, the crowd was overwhelmingly large with many people being denied entrance for fire safety reasons. People cheered the many presentations regardless of the presenters’ background. Indians appreciated African presenters and vice versa. I should also note that at the Phagwah Festival last March in Richmond Hill, people of all races and religions came together to celebrate the arrival of Spring. And the Indian Arrival Day celebrations in Richmond Hill also attracted celebrants from other races with non-Indians moving their bodies to Indian music.

The many festivals observed by our people settled overseas bring together families and diverse communities in a show of strength and togetherness and rekindle a spirit of oneness. The festivals help us to learn the traditions and values that are cherished parts of other people’s lives. They help to promote intercultural understandings and to eliminate feelings of ethnic prejudice and racism. These celebrations reflect the values of our people and clearly show we appreciate each other’s cultures, the way we once lived in the villages and the small towns. It makes sense, therefore, that we should have more of these celebrations to bring people together.

The practice of Guyanese celebrating together the festivals of the different races will undoubtedly strengthen the cultural understanding and solidarity among our people. They will help to promote cultural understanding and reduce ethnic tensions. While some politicians and commentators are seeking to exacerbate racial tensions and while some race baiters in their letters are imprisoned in their racial hatred for other groups, the people are ignoring them and enjoying each other’s cultures and presence. Let us continue to celebrate Guyanese diversity and ignore those who seek to take us apart.