–as Guyana turns a mature 48

HUNDREDS of Guyanese flocked the National Park last night to participate in the annual flag-raising ceremony that this year marked the nation’s 48th Independence Anniversary; and for many, if not all, gathered for the solemn observation, the moment served to quicken the spirit.

The fire of a bond stronger than the elements of division that often plague our society was tangibly felt in the charged atmosphere that attended the midnight hour when the Golden Arrowhead was hoisted, with President Ramotar, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces; First Lady, Madame Deolatchmee Ramotar; Prime Minister Mr Samuel Hinds and his spouse, Mrs Yvonne Hinds; Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony; and members of the Disciplined Forces standing beneath it.

The singing of the National Anthem followed.

Preceding the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead was the march of the Joint Services’ Guard of Honour, whose usual Parade March was met with loud cheers; and as they were met by the Head of State, President Donald Ramotar, the sombre tone for the flag-raising ceremony was set.

The other highlight of the night’s celebrations was a cultural performance that saw the participation of hundreds of young teens, who after last night had the privilege of being involved in one of the most phenomenal performances that occasioned the Independence celebrations.

Five groups of dancers clothed in the colours of the national flag took turns at depicting the representations of the colours in a showcase that was bolstered by awesome lighting effects.

Dancers in black, with lights attached to their wrists and other lights in their hands, illuminated a darkened National Park in a fitting depiction, as the colour black on the flag portrays the endurance that will sustain the forward thrust of the Guyanese people.

As they left the tarmac, a solitary Amerindian youth, whose movements indicated he was searching for something, took the focus, and his search ended with a rush of green-decked dancers. As he manoeuvred through the ‘trees’, given that green represents the agricultural and forested nature of Guyana, dancers with cutlasses appeared on the scene, and the ‘green dancers’ literally rolled off the tarmac.

Waves of white followed, interspersed with dancers in green, yellow and blue, accompanied by sounds of gushing water and birds chirping, eliciting images of rivers and the water potential of the country; as well as its cultural richness, as a most terrifying ‘Ol Higue’ traipsed in the midst.

The ‘gold dancers’ took the National Park’s tarmac by force as they represented Guyana’s mineral wealth, and they were accompanied by pork knockers.

The ‘reds’ took the meaning of ‘spirited’ to a new level as they rocked the National Park in a dance to a calypso tune. Soon enough, they were surrounded by the dancers outfitted in black, then gold, then white and then green; and stooping low, they fashioned a living Golden Arrowhead, which for the most part translated to a call on the Guyanese people to be alive with the spirit of nationalism.

The Police Force Band’s rendition of ‘Let us cooperate’, among other songs, was a befitting sequence to follow the cultural display.

Performances by the National Steel Orchestra also interspersed the evening’s performance.

Additionally, a 48th Independence Anniversary Message from soldiers who climbed Mount Ayanganna to hoist the Golden Arrowhead was preceded by prayers and the recital of the National Pledge by student of the St. Joseph High School, accompanied by a 21-gun salute.

As usual, a scintillating display of fireworks that captivated the attention of all ended the evening’s observance.

(By Vanessa Narine)