THE Guyana Public Service Union wishes to extend its warmest wishes to Guyanese, across our country and wherever else they may reside in the diaspora, on the occasion of Emancipation Day 2016.
While naturally we set much store by the cultural rituals and ceremonies in which African Guyanese immerse themselves to commemorate Emancipation Day, we must remember as well what Emancipation Day means in terms of the contribution that African Guyanese, as a free people and as patriots, must continue to make in building a cohesive society out of many people, many cultures, many beliefs.

“Differences”, we must remind ourselves, must not be thought of as being synonymous with “separateness”.
If physical manifestations mean that we cannot change who we are on the outside, African Guyanese, as much as any other race, must be animated by hearts that are open to the virtue of accommodation. We must gracefully and gratefully embrace the reality of our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural circumstance as a nation.

Simultaneously, we must, of course, celebrate the proud and wondrous heritage of African-ness. In the process, all Guyanese who share the same space must be encouraged to experience the generosity of spirit and the warmth that is second nature to African Guyanese. We must continue with determination and focus in pursuing the goals of our virtues and values, fearlessly but fairly. We must not permit any form of compromise or disrespect being displayed to our contribution to our national cause, nor our work and worth.

On the occasion of Emancipation Day, the Guyana Public Service Union wishes to extend its very best wishes for the creation of a strong and cohesive Guyana.
GUYANA PUBLIC SERVICE UNION
160 Regent & Shiv Chanderpaul Drive
Bourda, Georgetown.