Senate Resolution No. 2212

BY: Senator PARKER

COMMEMORATING the Diamond Jubilee Flag Raising and
Reception in Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of
Guyana's Independence on May 26, 2026

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those nations and communities whose enduring friendship
with the people of New York reflects the profound bonds of culture,
history, and shared values that unite us; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the Diamond Jubilee Flag Raising and Reception in
Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Independence of the
Co-operative Republic of Guyana, to be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at
the Helen Marshall Cultural Center in Kew Gardens, New York, and hosted
by Consul General Ambassador Michael E. Brotherson and Permanent
Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues
Birkett; and

WHEREAS, On May 26, 1966, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
achieved independence from the United Kingdom after one hundred and
fifty-two years of colonial rule, raising the Golden Arrowhead for the
first time and claiming its sovereign place among the nations of the
world. The colors of that beloved flag, green for agriculture and
forests; white for rivers and water; gold for mineral wealth; red for
the zeal and sacrifice of the Guyanese people, and black for their
endurance are a testament to the extraordinary richness and resilience
of a nation shaped by the convergence of African, East Indian,
Amerindian, Chinese, Portuguese, and European peoples; and

WHEREAS, The 60th Anniversary of Guyana's Independence is a Diamond
Jubilee of the most profound significance, a milestone that invites the
Guyanese people at home and throughout the diaspora to reflect upon six
decades of sovereignty, to honor the sacrifices of those who fought and
labored for freedom, and to celebrate the nation's remarkable journey of
self-determination, development, and cultural expression; and

WHEREAS, Under the theme "The Homecoming," the Government of the
Co-operative Republic of Guyana has called upon Guyanese throughout the
world to return, to reconnect, and to celebrate together; in New York,
the Consulate General and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations
have convened a series of Diamond Jubilee events bringing together
Guyanese nationals, members of the diplomatic corps, elected officials,
and friends of Guyana in a shared celebration of independence and
national pride; and

WHEREAS, Among the most stirring expressions of this celebration is
the aerial flyover on May 25 and 26, during which a giant Golden
Arrowhead national flag of Guyana will be flown across the skies of New
York City, passing over Lido Beach, Coney Island, the Hudson River, the
George Washington Bridge, Battery Park, and the rooftops of Brooklyn - a
breathtaking visual tribute to the resilience of the Guyanese diaspora
and a reminder that the Golden Arrowhead flies not only over Georgetown

but over every city where Guyanese people have built their lives and
communities; and

WHEREAS, The Guyanese diaspora in New York City, concentrated in the
neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx represents one of the
most vibrant, civically engaged, and culturally dynamic communities in
the State of New York, enriching every institution they touch and making
New York a more creative, more diverse, and more just place; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proudly moved to join the Guyanese
people of New York and of the world in celebrating sixty years of
independence, affirming the deep and enduring friendship between the
people of Guyana and the people of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the Diamond Jubilee Flag Raising and Reception in
Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Guyana's Independence on May 26,
2026, and to extend heartfelt congratulations to the Government and
people of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on this extraordinary
milestone; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Consul General Ambassador Michael E. Brotherson and
Permanent Representative Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, and to
the Consulate General of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana in New
York, as an expression of this Legislative Body's congratulations and
enduring friendship with the Guyanese people.