The New York launch of the 50th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Guyana got off to a great start at an event held at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Queens, New York on Saturday night.
The auditorium was standing room only as several hundred attendees from all over New York and several other states packed the space for the auspicious event. The atmosphere was one of excitement and high energy as guests arrived walking the red carpet outside the auditorium.
Along with Guyanese living in the US were a number of dignitaries from the political arena including Keynote presenter His Excellency the Honorable Moses Nagamootoo, Prime Minister of Guyana, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, and Ambassador Bayney Karan.
The event which was hosted by the 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee (New York) began with welcome and introductions from Dr. Ivelaw Griffith who chairs the Symposium Committee. Griffith introduced the Dr. Candace Cummings and Mr. Kishore Seunarine who served as mistress and master of ceremony for the event. In a gesture to the theme of unity that permeated all the remarks throughout the evening, the invocation was provided by the Reverand Michael Bachus, Pandit Manoj Jadubans and Imam Ahmad Hamid. Each faith leader provided a message of hope, peace, and unity for all Guyanese. The prayers were followed by rousing renditions of the national anthems of the United States and Guyana performed by Anthony Alleyne and Lenessa Alexander respectively.
The evening continued with musical selections that spanned multiple genres including, gospel, soca, and chutney. Performers included Dr. Cherry-Ann Hislop, Eddie Neblett (who performed his hit song Love & Unity), Gopaul Malgalram Chutney artiste and Lisa Punch, Guyana’s 2015 Miss World Contestant and winner of the Miss World Talent Contest. Dance performances included the Bethesda Healing Center Dance Ministry, the Impressions Dance Theater (dancing to the song “O Beautiful Guyana) and Nikita and Nadia Persaud who presented an authentic Classical Indian dance.
President David Granger who was unable to attend the event in person, nevertheless was present by video as he shared his vision of a Guyana not mired in the past, but in a nod to the theme of the evening “forging unity embracing modernity”. Greetings were presented by a number of New York elected officials many of whom are connected to Guyana by birth, parents and marriage.
Rickford Burke, Chairman of the New York 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee introduced members of the planning committee and sub committees and promised an exciting slate of events to celebrate the auspicious anniversary.
Dr. Taj Rajkumar Executive Member and Chair of the Queens Sub Committee introduced keynote speaker Prime Minster Nagamootoo and thanked all for their ongoing support.
In his remarks to the audience Prime Minister Nagamootoo emotionally referenced the early days of the independence movement. He shared with the audience that even as independence was initially granted it was done under emergency order and at that time forces unsupportive of the move, initiated a process of race baiting and divisiveness that permeated politics for decades. He spoke of he and President Granger’s commitment to abandon the politics of separation and asked all Guyanese to unite and work to ensure that Guyana lived up to its enormous potential. His remarks were interspersed throughout by supportive applause from the audience.
The evening closed with a prayer from Reverend Alfed Cockfield and then performers and committee members joined together on stage to the strains of “I am a Guyanese” led by recording artiste Adrian Dutchin.