Massive celebrations planned for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary in USA

Guyana’s Consulate General in New York City, Brentnold Evans and the 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee in New York have announced elaborate plans to celebrate Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary in New York City from June 4 to 12, 2016.

The Committee’s Communications Director Nevlon Duguid disclosed on Monday that the bipartisan, broad-based Committee comprises 112 members from the New York metropolitan area, Atlanta, North Carolina and Florida. He said the Committee is divided into 12 sub-committees for efficacy.

Officers of the Committee include Rickford Burke – Chairman; Lourdeth Ferguson Secretary; Geraldine Joseph-Watson – Assistant Secretary; Aquafie Munroe Treasurer; Ewart Marshall – Assistant Treasurer; Rennie Parris – Recording Secretary and Jacqueline Smartt – Assistant Recording Secretary. General Counsel and Counsel to the Committee are Attorneys Rovin Rozario and Edward Meertins-George, respectively.

Duguid said a State Dinner and Awards Ceremony and a grand finale “Mashramani-styled, Guyanese-American Unity Parade and Rally” will culminate the week-long celebration. He estimated an attendance of over 25,000 nationals at the Unity Parade.

The Director also added that the commemoration will be officially launched in November 2015 with the kick-off of “an amazing and a robust eight-month public relations and social media campaign to keep the Diaspora informed and to solicit unprecedented participation.” He promised a spectacular celebration of every aspect of Guyana’s rich history and culture of which every Guyanese will be ecstatic and proud.

The celebration will feature a collection of commemorative events, coordinated by the corresponding sub-committee chairs, including an Interfaith Prayer Service on June 4, a symposium on the History & Development of Guyana on June 5; “Guyana Gives Back” – A Day of Volunteerism throughout New York City on June 6; “Invest Guyana” Business and Investment Conference on June 7, in Manhattan; a Guyana Flag Raising Ceremony on June 9 in East Orange, New Jersey; a Unity Concert and Cultural Extravaganza on June 10 in Brooklyn, and many more.

Duguid also revealed that the committee will be selling commemorative memorabilia and souvenirs, but emphasised the Committee will be the sole merchandiser of such collectables.

He also highlighted the special importance of young people in the celebration. “Our youth are playing a significant role in planning the celebration. They have a role in propelling Guyana to new heights of development. This is why most of the officers as well as most chairs and co-chairs of the events are young people. “It is laudable that they have stepped forward to help lead this massive effort,” he stressed.

Noting the Diaspora will be kept fully apprised, involved and engaged in the commemorative activities and events, the committee’s communications director said the committee will continually reach out to every Guyanese organisation, religious congregation, societies and every Guyanese community in the US.

President Brigadier David Granger and other officials of the Government of Guyana have been invited to the New York festivities.