On the evening of June 8, hundreds of Guyanese gathered at the Brooklyn Borough Hall to celebrate the 46th independence anniversary of their beloved country.
The event was co-sponsored by Council Member Dr. Mathieu Eugene and the Guyana Tri-State Alliance, headed by Patricia Jordon-Langford.
Ms Jordan-Langford gave a warm welcome to everyone with a reminder that all Guyanese must contribute to nation building. She quoted Mahatma Gandhi’s “My notion of democracy is that under it the weakest should have the same opportunity as the strongest”. She then introduced Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Sandra Chapman, who expressed her own immense pleasure at having such a vast audience as her guests at the Borough Hall.
Council Member Dr. Mathieu Eugene took the podium, and brought his greetings and also those of Council Speaker Christine Quinn and the City Council at large. Council Members Leticia James and Jumaane Williams, along with Assemblyman Nick Perry, later joined him.
The evening’s keynote speaker was His Excellency George Talbot, Guyana’s Ambassador to the United Nations, who spoke of the country’s exploration for oil. He posited that “If there is a note I wish to sound tonight it is a note of cooperation. Each and every one of us, both at home and abroad, must play our part and help our leaders make the best of this special moment as the country is on the threshold of unprecedented progress. We must ensure that our nation is well positioned to seize the opportunity of this time.”
During the evening, 14 very deserving Guyanese in film, television, theatre, radio and music were honoured with The Golden Arrowhead Award of Distinction, together with City Council proclamations, and citations from The Brooklyn Borough Hall President Marty Markowitz.
They were: Actor and Director Marc Gomes, Film Producer and Actress Rhona Fox, TV Producer and Director Tanuja Raghoo, Radio Producer Angela Massiah, Communications and Media Professor Dr. Vibert Cambridge, and film directors and producers Mason Richards, Clairmont Chung, Dr. Paloma Mohamed, Mahadeo Shivraj and Major Mike Charles. Also honored were “King of Drums” Akoyaw Rudder, master drummer Winston “Jeggae” Hoppie, and Guyana’s musical visionary and premier panist Rudy Bishop.
A special award was given as well to broadcaster and playwright Francis Farrier, whose 50 years of service have left a lasting impression on countless lives throughout Guyana.
The evening’s festivities included a piano interlude by Dr. Keith Proctor; performances by students from the Verna Walcott Dance Studio as well as the Tassa Drummers, along with a rendition of the Whitney Houston hit song “I Will Always Love You,” sung by 11-year-old Victoria Labban.
Guyanese premier restaurants Sybil’s, Kaieteur, The Nest, The Hills, Linda’s and Orrin’s Catering, provided special mouthwatering Guyanese Cuisine at “A Taste of Guyana Reception” together with Demerara Distillers Ltd that provided an atmosphere of delight that gave a “back home feeling” while films on Guyana “Yours to Discover” produced by Guyanese Major (rtd) Mike Charles was screened throughout the evening.
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