The Guyana Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee (New York) has announced that the Guyanese Diaspora in the New York Tri-State area will celebrate Guyana’s 52nd Anniversary of Independence from June 3 – 10, 2018 in Brooklyn. The theme is “Celebrate Guyana To The World.” The New York celebration is the largest Independence commemoration outside of Guyana.
In a statement Saturday, Nevlon Duguid, the Committee’s Director of Communications disclosed that this year’s commemoration will comprise a Flag Raising Ceremony on June 3; Independence Parade (Mashramani in New York) on June 3 and the annual Guyanese Unity Concert on June 3. The Guyanese Independence Festival is on June 9 and the President’s Cup Independence Soccer Tournament is scheduled for June 10.
Duguid also disclosed that as a patriotic duty, the Committee has once again invited members of a Disciplined Service of Guyana to partner with Guyanese-American counterparts in the United States Armed Forces for the ceremonial honors at the commemorative events. He said the invitation is in honor of their service and dedication to protecting the people of Guyana. Members of Guyana’s national soccer team and other local players will also travel to New York to participate in the soccer tournament.
The New York committee successfully organized the historic jubilee celebration in 2016, attended by over 20,000 Guyanese. The 2017 celebration attracted over 10,000 nationals. Duguid noted that since 2016, interest in the Guyanese Independence celebration in New York has peaked astronomically, with the Committee’s website receiving over 4 million hits. He posited that the Committee is poised to mobilize an even larger contingent of Guyanese for its 2018 celebration, and urged all Guyanese in the New York Tri-State to come out and celebrate Guyana to the world. He announced the launch of a breathtaking and unprecedented phased-in media and public engagement campaign on March 1, 2018.
Last year Jamaican reggae super-star Charlie Black, Jumo Primo, Adrian Duchin, Lisa Punch, and others, headlined the Unity Concert. They were accompanied by the Queens based, Guyanese-owned Angel’s Caribbean Band. Duguid hinted at a surprise international superstar performance at this year’s Unity Concert, and urged potential patrons to purchase tickets early once they go on sale from May 1, 2018.
The Guyana Independence celebration has become the second largest West Indian celebration in New York; the largest being the Labor Day parade. The Guyanese Independence Parade is also the longest parade in New York City. Duguid said organizations, businesses, groups or individuals who are interested in participating in the celebration, placing truck or floats on the parade, or in vending, may contact the Committee at www.celebrateguyanainnyc.com or call 929-263-2556.