STUDENTS of St. Joseph High School yesterday celebrated their Sixth Annual Culture Day and took the opportunity to highlight various national milestones in light of the country’s 47th independence anniversary to be celebrated on May 26.

Commemorating the country’s transition from colonialism to republic status, the students yesterday relived the struggle through a timeline of photographs, replicas and artistic presentations of Guyanese culture.
Beverley Simon, Head of Department of Social Studies, said Guyana’s past is a mirror for the country’s cultural diversity and rich architecture. She noted that it is “punctuated by battles between the Spanish, French, Dutch and British to gain possession of our land.” “We are not only here to entertain but educate you about our history. As a people we didn’t have the right to make our own decisions, to govern our country, but now we are free and we can govern our own country.”
The students, of different races, united to celebrate this freedom through ancestral dances, re-enactment of traditional weddings and folksongs.  One student, a fourth former, reread Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s speech on the occasion of the Presentation of The Instruments of Independence. The young boy proudly recited Jagan’s words: “The PPP, the vanguard for Guyana’s struggle … is convinced that liberation is achieved only when it has been struggled for and won…it cannot be a gift of charity. For the people real freedom is still a prize to be won…and win it we will, as a reunited free people.”
Another fourth former recited the words of Forbes Burnham’s speech in  Parliament on the Presentation of The Instruments of Independence, from colonial rule: “…but today, to my mind, is above such relatively petty matters, for today Guyana is history…and all I can say now is thank you sincerely, your Royal Highness.”
These two boys then joined the entire St. Joseph High School to sing the “Hymn for Guyana’s Children” and “Let Us Co-operate for Guyana”. The school also choreographed a fashion show for the Culture Day.