Preparations in full swing for Guyana’s Independence celebrations in New York

The Guyanese Diaspora in the Tri-state New York area will once again be able to celebrate Guyana’s independence in full pomp and splendor. The Guyana Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee (New York) has announced their calendar of events which will take place from June 3–10 in Brooklyn. This year’s event will be themed ‘Celebrate Guyana To the World.’ The annual celebration is the largest independence commemoration outside of Guyana’s shores.
The ceremonial honours at the commemorative event will once again feature collaborations between members of the Disciplined Services of Guyana and their Guyanese-American counterparts in the United States Armed Forces. The Committee disclosed that this move is part of their patriotic duty.
Director of the Committee, Nevlon Duguid, has disclosed that the New York-based committee had first organised a successful Jubilee celebration which garnered the attendance of over 20,000 Guyanese nationals.
Meanwhile, the 2017 celebration attracted over 10,000 nationals. Duguid expressed the hope of attracting even larger numbers of Guyanese for the 2018 celebrations, referencing the great feedback the Committee has received. The Committee’s website has since received over four million hits. He urged the Guyanese population in the Tri-State area to come out and ‘Celebrate Guyana to the world’.
This year’s festivities will kick off with the flag-raising ceremony on June 3, the annual Guyana Independence Parade (Mashramani in New York) and the annual Guyanese Unity Concert following on the same day. On June 9 there will be a Guyana Independence Festival and the celebration will culminate with the Independence Cup Soccer Tournament on June 10.
The Guyana Independence celebration has become the second largest West Indian celebration in New York, second only to the annual Labour Day parade. Duguid stated that organizsations, businesses, groups, or individuals who are interested in participating in the celebration, placing a truck or float on the parade, or in vending, should contact the Committee as soon as possible.
Last year’s Unity Concert was graced with performances by Jamaican Dancehall star Charlie Black; Guyana’s own, Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo; Adrian Dutchin; Lisa Punch; and various other artistes. They were accompanied by the Queens-based, Guyanese owned Angel’s Caribbean Band. It was hinted that a surprise international artiste will headline this year’s Unity Concert and patrons were urged to get their tickets as early as possible.
Tickets will go on sale on May 1.