On May 26, 2026, Guyana’s 60th Independence Day, the Golden Arrowhead flag went up outside Queens Borough Hall on Queens Boulevard. The Consulate General in New York and Guyana’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations hosted the flag raising and reception to mark the anniversary. More than 200 people attended the Tuesday afternoon event.
Honor guards from the XGDF Association and the Guyanese American Law Enforcement Association raised the flag. Rev. Alfred Cockfield, Imam Shaykh Safraz Bacchus and Pandit Yogeshwar Narayan then blessed it. Having a Christian, a Muslim and a Hindu leader share the blessing reflected the many faiths of Guyanese New York.
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The celebration then moved inside to the Helen Marshall Cultural Center, named after the former Queens borough president, who was of Guyanese descent. Ambassador Michael E. Brotherson spoke about the long-distance pride of the diaspora, telling the room that “you can never take Guyana out of a Guyanese.” He also pointed to a giant flag flown over New York and digital displays in subway stations across the boroughs, all honoring Guyanese living abroad.
Deputy Queens Borough President Ebony Young noted that more than 80,000 Guyanese Americans live in Queens. She praised their work as first responders, teachers, healthcare workers and community leaders. UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett paid tribute to Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Forbes Burnham and everyone who fought for independence. Deputy Mayor Dr. Helen Arteaga-Landaverde brought greetings from Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The stage held a full program with Anthony Allen singing the national anthem and Vaidavi Singh reciting the pledge. Mikel Andrew, Dharmic Nritya Sangh and Jamain Victor performed, and Terry Tassa Explosion, Akoyaw Rudder, and The Rick Dalgetty & Tropical Rhythms rounded out the entertainment. Three of the dances represented Guyana’s Amerindian, African and Indian communities. To close the evening, the two ambassadors cut an achievement cake and raised a toast to the Diamond Jubilee.
Sixty years after the Union Jack came down in Georgetown, the same flag flew over Queens, home to the largest concentration of Guyanese in the New York area.
