By Frederick Halley
GUYANA’S Consul-General in Toronto, Sattie Sawh, and the 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee have announced elaborate plans to celebrate Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary in Canada and are also endeavouring to have Guyana’s president David Granger and other top government officials attend.The committee, which is being chaired by Sawh, held its official launching at the Guyana Consulate on February 27 last and according to her, plans are well advanced for the staging of the huge and spectacular celebration in the diaspora, where over 150,000 Guyanese reside, second only to New York in terms of overseas-based residents.
Officers of the committee include deputy chair Edith Bynoe, Joe Jaglall, flag-raising ceremony coordinator; Byron Harding, Website designer; Robert Gibson, Assistant Treasurer; Victor Yacoob, Guyana Festival Coordinator; Byron Henry, Committee Member, Clyde Gulliver, Guyana Consulate; Quaison Parris, Awards and Gala Coordinator; Leyland Gudge, Communications; Sherifa Carmichael, Administrative Coordinator, Mishelle Butters, Guyana Consulate; Pam Joseph, Assistant Secretary; Valerie Dye, Committee Member and Norma Baichu, Secretary.
The committee pointed out that the Golden Jubilee is a pivotal milestone “for us to reflect on the past 50 years in the context of learning pertinent lessons to take forward into the future and celebrate the history, the heritage, the pioneers and the achievements of the past.
It called on Guyanese to “celebrate focusing on the unity of Guyanese people and culture, including the indigenous community, to rejoice in our shared experiences and values and to proclaim Guyana’s desire and commitment to move forward to a brighter future.
The committee also wants the youths of Guyana to have the confidence and to support the dream bigger and reach higher in the next 50 years. “Anchoring on these themes, 50GUY is an inclusive celebration culminating in a series of activities contributed by the people, private and public sectors of Guyana.”
According to the organisers, “we have scheduled a number of exciting events during the year to mark the occasion and we look forward for the support of all Guyanese in Canada to join in celebrating this historic milestone.”
The celebration will feature a collection of commemorative events, coordinated by the committee and culminates with a grand jubilee awards and cultural show, scheduled for October/November at the St Lawrence Centre of Arts. Sawh pointed out that several notable Guyanese, including some posthumously, will be honoured at the grand occasion.
Prior to the gala awards, simultaneous flag-raising ceremonies are also set to be held on May 26 in Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg and other cities in Canada. The one in Toronto will be preceded by a march to the City Hall, where the ceremony will take place at 11.30hrs.
The ever popular Guyana Festival, which has attracted thousands since it was initiated in Toronto in 1995, is set for the weekend of July 1-3, simultaneously with Canada Day celebrations here and the committee is leaving no stone unturned to ensure its success.
The festival features the annual celebratory cricket matches and soccer tournament, coordinated by the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) president Albert Ramcharran and Mark Fanfair respectively, will be staged on July 2 and 3 at Littles Park, while the festival will culminate at the Exhibition Place bandstand on Sunday, July 3. The two-day festival also features a trade exposition and cultural show.
Essay and songwriting competitions also form part of the massive celebrations and are open to all youths of Guyanese heritage.
The committee plans to engage as many Guyanese as possible in the commemorative activities and events and Sawh has given the assurance that members will continually reach out to every Guyanese organisation, religious congregation, societies and every Guyanese community in Canada.