Several outstanding Guyanese individuals to be honored at July 4 Diamond Jubilee gala

The Brooklyn-based Guyana Independence Celebration Committee New York said on Friday, June 26, that several outstanding Guyanese will receive US Congressional Awards when the curtains come down on the New York celebration of Guyana’s Diamond Jubilee Independence commemoration.

Rickford Burke, chair of the Guyana Independence Celebration Committee New York, told Caribbean Life that the honor ceremony takes place on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at 8 p.m., at The Weldon B. Smith Theater, Edward Davis Center, 118-35 Farmers Blvd., St. Albans, Queens.

Burke said the gala is hosted by his committee, which also hosted the historic Guyana Jubilee Independence Parade and Unity Concert in Brooklyn, on June 7, which, he said, attracted over 20,000 people. 

“The organization postponed the gala from June 27, 2026, to July 4, 2026, to afford as many stakeholders and honorees as possible the opportunity to attend,” he said. 

Burke said top honorees include Baroness Valarie Amos, former leader of the British House of Lords, former Minister of Overseas Development in the British Government and current Master of the University College of Oxford; and Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, former Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana and Chief Justice-designate of the Turks and Caicos Islands. 

Other honorees include Dr. Shamir Ally, recognized for outstanding diplomatic service as former Guyana Ambassador to Kuwait; Dr. Rose October, honored for her leadership as director of the Guyana Cultural Association; Maureen Walker, acknowledged for her role as former Comptroller of the City of Mount Vernon; Dr. Riaz Rupnarain, valued for his combined work as a Guyanese Parliamentarian, University of Guyana lecturer and former Queens College teacher; Jayden Adrian, celebrated for being Guyana’s top Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) student for 2025; Ira Pile Lewis (Lady Ira), appreciated for community activism and humanitarian efforts; Indra Jainarinesingh, recognized as owner of Tota’s Bakery on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn; and Omotolo Golding, distinguished as youth coach and mentor. 

Burke said other honorees to be bestowed with Congressional accolades include Onoja Atta Onoja, businessman and president of the African Caribbean Chamber of Trade, Commerce and Industry; Dr. Terrence Campbell, Member of Parliament of Guyana and entrepreneur; Rhonda Binda, attorney, Democratic District Leader, former Deputy Queens Borough President and Guyanese community leader; Remmy Kulsum, assistant principal at Waterside School for Leadership MS 318, Far rockaway, Queens; and Dr. Sandra Harte, educator and former member of the Irvington Town Council, New Jersey.

Burke said special invitees include Baroness Valerie Amos, Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. 

“This Diamond Jubilee Independence celebration has pumped unimagined energy into the Guyanese American community,” Burke said. “It has engendered unprecedented national pride in every Guyanese as we reflect on the evolution of our heritage, history, culture and nationhood. 

“Our celebration is choreographed to highlight to the nation and Diaspora, Guyana’s journey from slavery to social transformation and the path to modern development,” he added. 

Burke said the celebration theme, “’Feel The Riddim Of The Nation @ 60’ captures the mood of the Diaspora as we approach this historic milestone,” Burke continued. “I felt so proud to be a Guyanese in America, as I watched the massive turnout of over 20,000 Guyanese on the streets of Brooklyn during the Independence Parade and Unity Concert. It was a mini-Labor Day Parade.” 

He said his committee plans to mobilize over 50,000 Guyanese next year for this event. 

“My vision is to grow this celebration to 100, 000 attendees by 2030,” Burke said. “Every Guyanese at home and in the Diaspora should be proud. I want our presence to be felt here in New York and all across the US. 

“Guyanese dominance in New York is coming. Watch out for us,” he added. “We not only want to dominate the streets with a parade; we want to dominate in business entrepreneurship, education, culture, as well in the fight for social justice, equality and equity, and for the rights of immigrants.”