Hughes lauds Guyanese Diaspora in NY for maintaining cultural heritage

TIMES INT'L
Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes with “Bob” the parrot and TV Weatherman Joey Stevens
Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes with “Bob” the parrot and TV Weatherman Joey Stevens

Tourism Minister Catherine Hughes, led a Guyanese contingent of travel professionals, hospitality and other service providers and representatives of the Guyana Marketing Corporation to the 14th Annual Guyana Folk Festival and Brooklyn Labour Day festivities last weekend.

Minister Hughes and party arrived in New York on Friday September 4, 2015 and went directly to the traditional “Kwe Kwe” (Queh Queh) event at the St Stephen’s Lutheran Church Hall.   She lauded the Guyana Cultural Association (GCA) for the effort they expend every year to maintain their cultural heritage and ensure that current Guyanese-Americans are continuously educated about their heritage.

“This is a good time to reflect on how far we’ve come, what we want to achieve in the near future, and the importance of maintaining our traditions and cultures,” the Minister said before she joined in the simulation of a traditional pre-wedding Kwe Kwe ceremony.

The large gathering, which included other West Indians and Americans, was also briefed on the plans to celebrate Guyana’s Golden Jubilee in May 2016. The Minister took the opportunity to extend an unconditional invitation to everyone to visit Guyana and participate in these celebrations.

The following day, the party attended the GCA’s Annual Literary Hang, an event that provides a platform for writers of every generation and any genre, published or not.   This year’s rising writers included Liann Aris Henry, Tiffany Herod, Chaniece Allen, and Terrance Bobb. Adult writers present included Brenda Richards, Charles Liverpool, Valerie Coddett, Yvonne Sam, Rueben Freeman, Rosalind Kilkenny McLymont, Kimani Nehusi, Francis Quamina Farrier, Courtney Noel, Percy Haynes, Roy Brummell, Angela Massiah, Claudia Persaud, Lear Matthews, Ted Matthews, Kwesi Oginga, Ingrid Griffith, Maurice St. Pierre, and Alexander Betton Haynes.

Luminary Dr Vibert Cambridge used the event to launch his new book Musical Life in Guyana. (Excerpt from GINA)

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