STAFF of the Consulate General of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in Toronto, led by Honorary Consul Mani Singh, joined the Association of Concerned Guyanese (ACG-Canada) at its much anticipated Annual Summer Picnic last Sunday at the Wildwood Park in Mississauga, Ontario.
Despite the intermittent inclement weather which earlier threatened to derail the event, scores of Guyanese arrived early to set up their tents to enjoy the festive day of food and fun with their family and friends, to the sounds of popular Guyanese, Caribbean and a fusion of Indo-Caribbean and reggae musical genres.
Members of the Guyanese diaspora and friends of Guyana, including elected officials, enjoyed sumptuous Guyanese dishes including cookup rice, roti and curry, dhal puri, pholourie, bara, bakes and saltfish, fried rice, and barbecue, among other dishes.
Honorary Consul Singh congratulated the executive and members of the ACG for their exceptional contribution to the development of Guyana, noting especially that its members have served as Cabinet Ministers in Guyana and Head of Diplomatic Missions in Canada.
Singh, himself a former ACG President, pinned a special edition Guyana-Canada pin on the current ACG President, Danny Doobay, marking 60 years of Diplomatic and Cultural Relations between Guyana and Canada and consequently, Guyana’s Diamond Jubilee Independence anniversary.
Staff of the Consulate provided Guyanese-Canadians attending the picnic with valuable information regarding various consular services offered by the Guyana Consulate in Toronto.
The ACG Canada was formed in 1973 as a mobilisation of Guyanese fighting for the return of Democracy and Free and Fair elections in Guyana.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the Queen’s College Alumni Association of Canada, hosted its Annual Pre-Father’s Day Brunch in Scarborough, Ontario, with the Consulate also offering its continued support.
Honorary Consul Singh offered greetings on behalf of His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the Government and people of Guyana, and congratulated the organiation for another year of support to its Alma mater.
Singh noted the valuable contribution that past students of Queen’s College have made to the Guyanese society and internationally, in the fields of science and technology, social sciences, finance and economics, medicine, education, research, Law, politics and governance, among other professions.
The Guyana representative in Toronto stated that the premiere institution has produced four Heads of State – President Dr Cheddi Jagan; President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham; President Samuel Hinds and President David Granger.
Presidents Dr Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham were recognied as leaders in the fight for Guyana’s independence, which was initiated by Dr Jagan, who started his political career earlier.
Guests at the brunch enjoyed nostalgic Guyanese dishes and participated in trivia in which they won prizes. Some lucky persons also won door prizes.
Mr. Reginald Thompson, Vice President of the QC Alumni Association, on behalf of the President, Mr. David Burke who was unavailable, was honored by Honorary Consul Singh with a special edition Guyana-Canada pin, celebrating 60 years of economic and diplomatic relations between Guyana and Canada.
