At Guyana’s 43rd Independence anniversary celebrations…
THE inclement weather in New York City on Friday, June 6, did not dampen the spirits of our ever patriotic Guyanese brothers and sisters who turned out in their numbers to fill the Council Chambers at City Hall to celebrate Guyana’s 43rd Anniversary of Independence.

Caribbean Life contributing writer and photographer, Ms Tangerine Clarke, receives proclamation from Council Members Mathieu Eugene and Kendall Stewart.

Their determination and drive was not lost on Ambassador Bayney Karran who, in his address, commended the Guyanese community in New York for taking advantage of the myriad opportunities the City has to offer them as part of its immigrant population.

He also reminded those present that it is a well-established fact that Guyanese are a hospitable, enterprising and industrious people, which attributes, he said, were to their advantage as they allowed them to better integrate in their respective communities, to the benefit of the continued progress and development of New York and its environs.

He said that May 26 will always go down in the annals of our history as the day when four hundred years of colonial rule ended. “The people … took control of their sovereignty and committed to developing the nation according to the free will of its people.

“As Guyanese here in New York and elsewhere in the United States join in celebrating 43 years of Independence, with fitting pride, I take the opportunity not merely to congratulate you, but also to express appreciation for your solidarity, your patriotism and for the contributions which so many of you have been making to Guyana’s development.”

Karran called on Guyanese wherever they are in the Diaspora, but more specifically in New York and elsewhere in the USA, to be good ambassadors for their mother country, and more significantly, to strive to dispel the negative stereotyping to which we have been subjected of late. He also commended those being honoured that night, as has been the habit over the years at this event, for their outstanding work in service to their respective communities.

This year’s honorees, 12 in number, were: Justice Clarence Barry-Austin; Mr Albert Baldeo, Esq; Ms Tangerine Clarke; Ms Enid Louise Fraser; Dr. Lilith Haynes; Justice Ingrid Joseph; Mr Ron Ramnarayan; Mr Lakeram Persaud; Ms Claire Patterson- Monah; Yolndra (Ryan) Ramnarayan; Mr George Subraj; and Imam Hajl Zaklr. Also on the list was President of the Megar Evers College, Dr Edison O Jackson, who was conferred a special honour.

The June celebration was hosted by the Guyana Tri-State Alliance (GTSA) in collaboration with Council Members Dr Mathieu Eugene, Mr Leroy Comrie, and Dr. Kendall Stewart, who all joined in hailing GTSA President, Ms Patricia Jordan-Langford for her sterling contribution over the years, and presented her with two awards and a bouquet of flowers.

The stellar event, which was emceed by radio personalities Bobby Vieira and Roxanne Beumont, paid tribute to Guyana’s unique culture with dance pieces from Verna Walcott-White’s ‘Impressions Dance Theatre’, and Malini Bose Shaw’s ‘Nritya Kala Kendra’; a poem by Mr James Richmond; and a moving violin solo from nine-year-old Claudium Agrippa.

The audience was also treated to a stirring rendition in drums by Akoya Rudder, Winston ‘Jeggae’ Hoppie, Varu Ramall, Tulidas, and Ajayay Seerattan of the Star Alliance Tassa Group.

Musician, Dr Keith Proctor, provided the musical interlude, Monique Bethund of the Restoration Temple Assembly of God Choir sang the National Anthems, while the Tappin Sisters, delivered a Gospel Praise selection.

Ecumenical prayers were rendered by Imam Hajji Zakir, Pandit Tillack Seeratan, and Bishop Cecil Mercurius.

Diplomats present included Guyana’s Consul General in New York, Mr Brentnold Evans, and Trinidad and Tobago’s Consul General in New York, Dr Harold Robinson.