On Sunday, May 8, 1966, it was announced in the Guiana Graphic newspaper, that former Queen’s College cadet, Desmond Roberts, then a second lieutenant in the Army, was chosen for a permanent place in the history of this country; he was selected to raise aloft the five-coloured national flag at midnight on May 25, 1955 to herald the birth of the new nation of Guyana. The modest and unassuming Roberts, at the time, had already served in the British Guiana Volunteer Force and was among the second batch of recruits taken into the Guyana Defence Force
A walk to the USA to enrich Guyana’s reputation
In May 1966, these five lads, seen here looking at their tour map, planned to walk from then British Guiana to the USA (criss-crossing eight South and Central American countries to get there), in a tribute to the new sovereign nation Guyana. The leader of the daring group of Roman Catholic friends, Martias Nero, said they aimed to demonstrate that the youths of Guyana had stamina and an adventurous spirit. He said: “We hope that with God’s help…we can enrich the reputation of our country.”
First wedding in a Gov’t office
The first wedding to be held in a Government of Guyana office (except the registrar’s office, of course) took place on May 5th, 1966 at the Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction on Waterloo and New Market Streets. The wedding, according to Muslim rites, was witnessed by Minister Neville Bissember, who is partly seen in the photo congratulating the couple, Magbol Ahamad and Bibi Noojahan, of Wakenaam Island, both of whom were working at the Ministry. They were not aware that the Registrar’s office could only perform the civil ceremony, and not the Muslim religious rites, and so they decided to get married at the office where Ahamad worked as a Town and Country Planning Officer

Up goes Freedom Arch
On May 8, 1966, the aluminium arms of the Independence Arch at the Head of Brickdam were set up. The monument was a gift from Demba to mark the country’s Independence.
Biggest ever welcome for Mohamed Rafi
On May 11, 1966, a massive crowd gathered at the country’s main airport, then called Atkinson Field, to welcome Indian playback singer Mohamed Rafi. The gathering was said to be the biggest ever welcome for an entertainer.
‘Detainees Day’
On May 12, 1966, Opposition Leader Dr Cheddi Jagan, who led a march to Public Buildings in the city, is seen here handing over to Parliamentary Secretary David DeGroot, the bulky pile of signatures, said to be 70, 000, calling for the release of 13 PPP detainees at Sibley Hall. Assemblyman Mooner Khan is seen in the background.