The Guyana Tri-State Alliance, in collaboration with The Consulate General of the Republic of Guyana, New York and the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations, celebrated Guyana’s 45th Independence anniversary on Wednesday, June 22 with a special evening and appreciation ceremony.
The event, dubbed “A Taste of Guyana”, was held at Brooklyn Borough Hall, Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, New York. 11201. USA.
Among the recipients of the special honor were community philanthropist Rick Chetram; humanitarian Vibert Bernard; actress and advocate for preservation of Guyanese culture Rose October-Edun; Patrick and Paul Haynes of the Haynes Foundation in Guyana; Ms. Taruna Sardoo — advocate for educating women and children in Guyana and around the globe; Pandit Suresh Sugrim, President of the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir Humanitarian Mission and champion for the poor and less fortunate of Guyana; Dr. John Mitchell of Health and Education Relief for Guyana (HERG), advocate for family health and prevention of infant mortality; Ngozi Moses, photojournalist of The Washington Post; Nikki Kahn, and Mohamed A Hassim, who have been noted as key figures in keeping the diaspora connected.
Pandit Sugrim was born in Corriverton, Guyana and migrated to the USA in 1980. He settled in Bloomfield, New Jersey and found the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir Humanitarian Mission in 2005. The mission’s current initiatives are:-
- Assistance to less fortunate children in and out of orphanage care
- Empowerment to low income working families and single mothers to acquire their own homes
- Medical care (such as surgery outside of Guyana)
- Food Vouchers for seniors, battered women and underprivileged children
- Education Fund for children living in dire poverty
- Benevolent Home Building Project for seniors, abused and battered women, men, and orphans
- Helping victims of domestic violence, rape, abuse
During his acceptance speech, Pandit Sugrim applauded the diaspora’s generosity in reaching out and giving freely through various charity events and contributions. He reiterated that without the community’s earnest participation the mission’s initiatives would not be achieved. “I am just the facilitator. This honor is yours,” he said.
The special observance was sponsored by the speaker of the event, Christine C.Quinn, Councilman the Honorable Dr Mathieu Eugene, and the Honorable Marty Markowitz, President of the Brooklyn Borough.
