The Chinese Association of Guyana on Sunday staged a spectacular show at the National Park as the Chinese community here ushered in the Year of the Dragon. In this photo, a group performs the Lion dance for the appreciative crowd
The colourful aspects of the Chinese culture were showcased in front of a large Guyanese audience Sunday afternoon when the inaugural Chinese New Year Fair was hosted on the tarmac of the National Park. President Donald Ramotar and First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar joined Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Yu Wenzhe and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds at the packed venue to witness the Lion Dance, modelling, dance and martial arts.
The fair, organised by the Chinese embassy in Guyana, marked the occasion of the Chinese New Year, ” the Year of the Dragon”, and also offered patrons the opportunity to sample Chinese- made products and services provided by reputable Chinese-owned businesses and affiliates, including Long Hi Centre, China Trading, China Railway First Group, Jailing Motorcycles and Wimax.
A brief history of the celebration was given by Ambassador Wenzhe, who explained that the year is symbolic of togetherness, love and happiness with the hosting of a fair as one of the main highlights.
He said that in China, to mark the occasion, friends and family would converge at one location to enjoy a cultural performance, traditional food, art and craft.
Given that Sunday’s event is a first in Guyana, he ex pressed the hope that it becomes an annual feature.
President Ramotar commended the Chinese nationals in Guyana for organising the event with the support from the Chinese Association of Guyana, and hailed the long and productive bilateral relations Guyana holds with China.
“We have a long history and link with China; the first Chinese having come here 160 years ago… they have made a tremendous contribution, braving a lot of difficulties in maintaining some of their culture.
Fortunately, today, we are seeing a revival of that to add to our multi- ethnic, multi- racial multi- cultural society,” President Ramotar said.
President Ramotar said that Sunday’s showcase fuses with the rich cultural diversity of Guyana.
The head of state was also proud of the fact that many Guyanese who have made their mark in history are of Chinese ancestry, and cited the country’s first president, Arthur Chung as an example.
The president went back in history, recalling that it was a company owned by a Chinese businessman that offered the first scholarship to a student of the University of Guyana, recognising the value of education to the development of Guyana. The releasing of lanterns that illuminated the night skies was among the highlights of the cultural evening. The Chinese, who arrived as indentured immigrants to Guyana in 1853, have made their mark in the fields of medicine, commerce, mining, politics, music and, education.
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