THE Consulate General of Guyana in New York hosted a moving Emancipation Day observance on July 31, 2025, at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn.
The vibrant event brought together members of the Guyanese Diaspora, the Caribbean Consular Corps, and community leaders for an evening of reflection, culture, and celebration.
Ambassador Michael E. Brotherson, Consul General of Guyana, delivered greetings on behalf of the Government and People of Guyana, as well as President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd.

Ambassador Brotherson reflected on key moments that shaped the journey to freedom, including the 1763 Berbice Uprising led by Cuffy, and the passage of the Abolition of Slavery Act in 1833.
“Emancipation Day must always be seen as being much more than a historical marker. Instead, Emancipation Day must be seen and observed as a cultural celebration of strength, resistance, and pride,” he said, adding that Afro-Guyanese have remained “strong and enduring pillars in Guyana’s progress”.

He highlighted the government’s One Guyana Initiative, which, he said, seeks to eliminate disparities, and ensure that every citizen, including Afro-Guyanese communities, can fully participate in and benefit from the nation’s progress.

Ambassador Brotherson said: “It represents our collective commitment to building a society where our diversity is not a source of division but a pillar of strength.”
Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, in her address, said: “I extend a special greeting to our African Guyanese sisters and brothers. Your history and your culture are part of our shared Guyanese patrimony, and Guyana is richer, stronger and better for it.”

She reminded attendees that August 1, 1838, “represents the end of the inhumane institution of slavery, injustice and oppression”.
Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett said: “It is the sheer willpower to end their collective suffering, which resulted in the multiple uprisings by the enslaved, including the 1763 Rebellion, and which eventually led to the end of slavery.”

Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett also reaffirmed Guyana’s stance on reparations: “There must be reparations for centuries of slavery and exploitation,” she declared.
The Emancipation programme featured drumming, dance, traditional garments, and cultural displays mirroring the vibrant Emancipation celebrations in Guyana.

Both Ambassadors urged the Diaspora to remain engaged with Guyana’s development, building on the legacy of freedom and unity won through centuries of struggle.
“As we commemorate Emancipation Day 2025,” Ambassador Brotherson said, “let us remember the strength of our ancestors not only with our words, but with our actions, with unity and a shared commitment to prosperity for all.”