Communications Officer of the Jamaica Consulate, Christopher Benjamin, left, a visitor, CG Michael E. Brotherson, CG Alison Wilson, and Sheldon Peter Anthony, Consul Basic of Dominica, throughout a festive social on the Manhattan Consulate on Dec. 18.
Photograph by Tangerine Clarke
The halls of the Guyana Consulate in Manhattan had been joyfully embellished with components of Christmas and stuffed with laughter, music, and the odor of nationwide dishes, due to Consul Basic of Guyana to New York, Ambassador Michael E. Brotherson, who welcomed a gleeful group of diasporans and members of CARICOM for a night of vacation cheer.
The diplomat, dressed to impress, thanked nationals, whom he referred to as fantastic Guyanese, for attending the Christmas social and shared that it had been a really lengthy however profitable 12 months on the consulate.
“We have now been in a position to perform our mandate with a lot alacrity. It’s one thing that we should proceed doing. “Our mandate comes straight from His Excellency President Irfaan Ali. He’s keenly fascinated with having the diaspora served with dignity and respect. I’m blissful to see so a lot of you right here, my mates and schoolmates, and everybody who got here to rejoice with my fantastic employees and me.”
In his transient remarks, the ambassador spoke extremely of the Consul Basic of Jamaica to New York, Alsion Wilson, chair of the CARICOM Consular Corps, calling her his boss and an exquisite girl “who has been a pacesetter for us. We have now interacted and have pursued a number of initiatives collectively to reinforce the lives of our diasporans. Alsion has been a beacon in our efforts to serve our collective Caribbean individuals,” he mentioned.
“Ambassador, thanks a lot for all that you just do for not solely the Guyanese in New York however for the Caribbean as a complete, mentioned Wilson.
“We have now a long-standing relationship, and Jamaica is right here in full pressure. Thanks for the assist we obtain from you and your implausible employees,” mentioned Council Basic Wilson.
“The one factor, although, ambassador, is that after we arrived, I hoped for a Christmas present to Jamaica of a few of your oil,” she quipped and referred to as on Guyana’s Overseas Secretary Robert Persaud to oblige, a lot to the tickle of celebrants.
“We love Guyana. The connection we shared over the previous years will proceed as we serve the Jamaican and Guyana diaspora right here in New York. Please keep in mind that I’ve leaned on you so many instances for recommendation and assist, you may proceed to do the identical, and Jamaica will at all times be right here to assist you.”
“Thanks a lot for inviting us. I’m trying ahead to the roti and curry rooster,” she mused. Congratulations and Merry Christmas to all concluded CG Wilson.
Ambassador Brotherson welcomed Guyana’s Minister Robert M. Persaud, who was in New York and gladly agreed to attend the Christmas social. The diplomat additionally talked about that
Minister of Overseas Affairs Hugh Todd had just lately departed New York after a gathering and had despatched his regrets.
Persaud, who additionally serves as Guyana’s Excessive Consultant for the United Nations Safety Council Affairs and Co-chair of the U.S.-Caribbean Excessive-Degree Motion Committee on Meals Safety, prolonged festive greetings to Ambassador Brotherson, the Consulate, and Mission to the UN Workers members, representatives from CARICOM international locations, expatriates, and group leaders. He additionally introduced greetings from President Irfaan Ali, the federal government, and the individuals of Guyana.
“To our consulate employees, Ambassador Brotherson, Fazal Yusseff, and others who have interaction Guyanese within the diaspora, you proceed to be the frontline face of our authorities right here in New York and the larger New York space. It’s by way of you that we join, and thru you right here on the consulate, we serve this huge Guyanese diaspora,” mentioned Persaud.
The politician spoke of Guyana’s transformational and financial development and urged nationals to play their half in “making the thoughts and the well being of our nation one wherein we’ll proceed to win the admiration of not solely our individuals inside the nation however wider afield.
“I need additionally to encourage the employees and commend them for the work that they’ve been doing. Give them a spherical of applause,” he inspired, including, “The consulate belongs to you, too. This isn’t solely the property of the federal government of Guyana, but in addition the property of the individuals of Guyana.”
“I need you to make sure that the ambassador and his workforce ship, however particularly as we go into 2025 and given the nice issues which are going to be occurring in our nation, we additionally need to have that larger outlook in how we serve individuals, how we have interaction, and the way it’s that we attempt to facilitate improvement and assist each single day.”
“I want you and your loved ones a contented, vibrant, and affluent new 12 months. I wish to guarantee you that our authorities will keep the course for the prosperity and improvement of our individuals and our nation,” the politician mentioned.
The cheerful night’s proceedings, emceed by Claire Patterson-Monah, included the handing over of a Proclamation from New Jersey Senator Britnee Timberlake and Plaques from the Guyana American Heritage Basis, NJ, introduced by the group’s president, Woman Ira Lewis. The accolades went to Ambassador Michael E. Brotherson and Fazel Yussuff, Diaspora Unit, Consulate.
Meeting Member Jenifer Rajkumar additionally despatched greetings.
And after feasting on high-quality Guyanese fare from Fazee’s Delight Restaurant, company danced the night away to the music of DJ Wacky Spontaneous Crew.
