CaribPR Newswire, New York, NY, June 2, 2008: Guyana`s Golden Arrowhead is flying high above New York`s financial district after being raised there for the second consecutive year on May 31st by the Committee to Celebrate Guyana.
The flag of the South American nation will fly for one week above the Big Apple in honor of Guyana`s 42nd anniversary of independence from Britain. The second flag raising event, a brainchild of Hard Beat Communications CEO, Felicia Persaud, was preceded on Saturday by a VIP reception and cultural presentation at the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Customs House at Bowling Green.
Rain forced the event indoors and the GSA administration graciously closed off their magnificent rotunda for cultural performances by several Guyanese artists. The event opened with a word of praise by Rev. Dr. Evelyn John before Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs of New York City, Guillermo Linares handed over a proclamation by York City Mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, declaring Saturday, May 31st, `Guyanese Independence Day` in New York City.
Almira Brasse again lent her operatic voice to the event as her rendition of the Guyana national anthem, accapella style, in the magnificent rotunda, left the crowd speechless with pride. A representative from the Brooklyn borough President`s Office also declared `The Republic of Guyana independence day in Brooklyn` before Menses the Griot and the Shanto drummers brought the rotunda alive with a cultural rendition on several magnificent drums, including the Trinity drum.
Deejay Praksh added a chutney flavor while the S.T.A.R.S Teen dance group of Brooklyn brought an element of hip-hop to the event. Emcee Bobby Veira, of One Caribbean Radio, then turned the ceremony`s focus on the 2008 honorees, who included Hollywood Actor Marc Gomes, introduced by Committee member Don Profitt; Laparkan CEO Glen Khan, who was introduced by Committee member Chuck Mohan; and Leena Jainarine of Tota`s Bakery, introduced by Allison Skeete, also of the Committee to Celebrate Guyana.
The Committee`s first `Friend Of Guyana` awards were also presented to Western Union, introduced by Irwine Clare of the Caribbean Immigrant Services; and to the chair of the Bowling Green Association, Arthur Piccolo.
As the awards concluded, King Raj, of The Indo Caribbean Star Finals Competition, took the mic and brought the audience alive with his upbeat tempo rhythm that brought several into the rotunda to `party.` Other notable performances came from Sammy Baksh, Marlon Jardine, who performed `Small Days,` Harmonica Man from Venezuela; Junior Kulcha; veteran Guyanese singer Cliff Joseph and his daughter Coriena and reggae stars H20 Wata Flo.
The Committee to Celebrate Guyana was founded last year by reaching with nationals like Chuck Mohan, Ron Bobb-Semple, Allison Skeete, Roger Gary, Don Proffit, Rickford Burke and Marina Sahadeo among others last year.
The inaugural event in 2007 featured cultural performances came from many Guyanese artists including Slingshot Drepaul, Courtney Noel, Almira Brasse, The Triad Group, the Verna Walcott, Deeraj and dance groups, drummer Akayo, poets James Richmond and Francis Quamina Farrier and musical saw player Moses Josiah.
Thousands of Guyanese gathered near The Bull in Lower Manhattan to celebrate the 41st anniversary, including Guyana’s ambassador to Washington, Bayney Karran, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and several other elected and appointed officials, Hollywood actor Sean Patrick Thomas, boxer Vivian Harris, Bollywood actor Kumar Guarav and movie producers, Rohit Jagessar and Mikey Nivelli.
PHOTO: Actor Marc Gomes and Committee to Celebrate Guyana founder, Felicia Persaud, r, with Colonel Hartley Liverpool, l., prior to the raising of the Golden Arrow Head.
