Guyana Ambassador to USA, Sam Hinds, and his deputy, Zulfikar Ally, and members of Guyana Consulate (Fazal Joe Yussuf and others) in New York were accorded warm reception at the building extension of Guyanese Al Abidin Masjid on Liberty Avenue and 127 Street in Richmond Hill. The delegation visited the Masjid at its invitation to give an update on development progress in Guyana by the PPP administration (over the last 22 months) on the occasion of Guyana’s 56th independence observance (last May 26). On preceding days, the delegation held similar interaction with members of the diaspora at a temple and a Christian church. A cultural event and reception was also held on 153rd St in Jamaica, Queens, at the Queens Performing Center that was graced by Minister Susan Rodrigues, Ambassador Hinds (who served as prime Minister and President) and Mr. Ally as well as Members of the NY Consulate.
Amb Hinds congratulated the organizers of the Masjid event as well as the preceding events. He gave an update on the PPP administration plans on development of Guyana, use of oil revenues, and improving the business environment in Guyana. He, as well as Dep. Amb Ally, spoke about diversification and challenges and opportunities that are before the country as well as the diaspora.
Both guests applauded the diaspora’s role in Guyana’s development and in the struggle (1966 to 1992 and again in 2020) for the restoration of democratic governance. They urged continued assistance to help Guyana achieve economic diversification. They appeal to the diaspora to become partners in the country’s development. They note that government is wooing the diaspora with various schemes. They also stated that the government is pursuing economic diversification so as not to fall into the Dutch Disease of depending on only oil for development.
