Renowned Guyanese singer Dave Martins of the Trade Winds will be the guest speaker at this year’s function to mark the 38th anniversary of Guyana’s republican status. The function is being organized by the Guyana American Cultural Association of Central Florida (GACACA) and will be held on Saturday February 23 in Orlando.
The Speaker of the House, Ralph Ramkarran is also scheduled to make a presentation at the ceremony.
The talented singer who copped the Golden Arrowhead of Achievement (AA) award for his tune “Not a blade of grass” in an interview with me last year said that the diaspora are not allowed to play the part which they would like to play in Guyana.
He said that they are being shut out by their countrymen.
He said that he tried on several occasions to assist Guyana, the country of his birth, but it seems as if some of his countrymen are putting up a barrier because they feel threatened that their glory and honour would be reduced or curtailed.
This, he said, is unfortunate because he wants to give and not to take. Many of them told him that “they stay and bun and the diaspora cut and run”
He added that many Guyanese see him and other members of the diaspora as outsiders who want to interfere.
The Guyanese diaspora send millions of dollars in remittances to their relatives at home every year and this assists the country’s economy significantly.
Last year’s Guyanese speaker at the GACACA republic anniversary celebration was Guyanese actress, Carol Pounder, and the previous year former test cricketer ALvin Kalicharran. Ted Braithwaite, the author of “To SIr With Love” was the speaker for the 2005 celebrations.
Pounder assisted to raise $12,000 which was sent to Uncle Eddie’s Home and an orphanage in Georgetown, as well as the Dharm Shala in Berbice.
