LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Guyana
Cultural Association of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with its
time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those organiza-
tions which foster ethnic pride and enhance the profile of cultural
diversity which strengthens the fabric of the communities of New York
State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 10th Anniversary of the Guyana Cultural Association of New
York, to be celebrated on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 in Brooklyn, New
York; and
WHEREAS, In addition, this fine event is the Guyana Cultural Associ-
ation of New York's Cultural Folk Festival Awards Ceremony; and
WHEREAS, Contemporary Guyana was built by people who defined a common
culture from a wide range of forbearers and circumstances; the indige-
nous people, today called Amerindians, were enslaved by European colon-
ists beginning in the 1600s; the Dutch, French and English, in
succession, established plantations in a colonial period that lasted
hundreds of years; and
WHEREAS, The savagery of slavery was extended to Africans who made
transatlantic journeys mainly from the coast of West Africa; two hundred
years later, the colonial plantation masters replaced the African slaves
with indentured laborers; and
WHEREAS, The first group was brought from Portugal, and over a period
of nearly eight decades the indentureship continued with the arrival of
Chinese and mostly Indians from the Asian continent; and
WHEREAS, Barbadians and other West Indians were also among the inden-
tured labor class transported to the Guyana coastland; they have all
forged the Guyanese culture; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Guyana Cultural Association of
New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Guyana Cultural Association of New York.