Min. Greenidge celebrates independence with Guyanese diaspora in NY

The Guyanese diaspora in New York, USA celebrated Guyana’s 52 years of sovereignty with a flag raising ceremony on the eve of independence.

Second Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge and members of the diplomatic and consular corps were among those in attendance at the flag raising ceremony which was held at the Brooklyn Borough Hall Rotunda on Friday.

Minister Greenidge said Guyana’s independence should be commemorated as more than a yearly observance. “Many of our forebearers … sacrificed life and limb in order to achieve that independence. We should value it,” he said.

Guyana gained its independence on May 26, 1966. Minister Greenidge said independence should be a reflection of our contribution to the country’s development. The minister added Guyanese have an indomitable spirit.

“This is part of our task in commemorating it: to look back but also to look forward, to see how we can contribute at home and abroad to help to assert the Guyanese spirit and the Guyanese image across the world,” Minister Greenidge noted.

The Minister encouraged Guyanese in the diaspora to utilise their skills and inherited experience to enrich the Guyanese community wherever they are.  “It is for us as Guyanese to ensure that that image is a positive and constructive one,” he added.

Ambassador and Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Michael Ten-Pow, noted independence is a learning process. Reflecting on the country’s journey so far, the Ambassador said Guyana has within its grasp the opportunity to achieve the good life for this and future generations.

“We’ve always had the resources, we’ve also had the people … now we’re beginning to see something new emerging a new confidence in ourselves and what we’re capable of achieving,” Ambassador Ten-Pow said.  This confidence is reflected in Guyana’s recent successes in international arenas of sports and science, he added.

(Department of Public Information)