Dear Editor,
Guyana’s Consulate General of New York and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations hosted a flag raising ceremony and reception in Queens in observance of Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary (Golden Jubilee).
The flag hoisting took place in front of the Boro Building on Queens Blvd and a cultural concert laced with speeches and reception took place inside the building at the Helen Marshall Cultural Center.
Delivering remarks on the occasion were the Deputy Boro President, deputy Mayor for Cultural Relations, UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues- Birkett, Consulate General Ambassador Michael E. Brotherson, and a representative of Diplomatic and Caribbean Consular Corps. There were three cultural dances representative of the Amerindian, African, and Indian communities.
Over two hundred patronized the event held on Tuesday afternoon May 26.
The program began outside with religious invocations, a march past, national pledge, anthems, and the hoisting of the American and Guyana flags.
In the cultural ballroom, Ambassadors Birkett and Brotherson commended the role being played by the large diaspora in New York. It was pointed out the speakers from the Boro and the City that Guyanese are the fifth largest immigrant group in New York. Almost a million Guyanese and their descendants are in America. Hundreds of thousands are in the greater New York area with Queens having the largest concentration. Because of their dominance in Richmond Hill, the extended area is called “Little Guyana”, where over a hundred thousand Guyanese call home. The deputy Boro President and the deputy Mayor extolled the contributions made by Guyanese in New York.
The Ambassadors made reference to the struggle waged for nationhood and the border dispute with Venezuela and to America’s celebration of its 250th anniversary of independence.
There was tassa and African drumming as well as a steel band and a cutting of the 60th anniversary cake followed by a musical interlude by Rick Dalgetty. This was followed by the reception of drinks and snacks. Guests were treated to a Guyana stamped white cream-coloured bag when they made their way to the auditorium. The reception included a variety of items related to Guyana as well as fresh coconut water from Guyana, Guyanese juices, and a hot meal of traditional Guyanese dishes.