Guyanese nationals receive awards at Independence anniversary gala

By Gerald V. Paul

High Commissioner Clarissa Riehl and Co-Chair, Guyana 50th Independence Celebration, Winston Kassim,
High Commissioner Clarissa Riehl and Co-Chair, Guyana 50th Independence Celebration, Winston Kassim,

Clarissa Riehl, Guyana’s recently appointed High Commissioner to Canada, called on  Guyanese ” in the Diaspora”  to promote their native land ” as a place to do business, to generate industries and to relax.”

She was speaking at  Guyana’s 50th  Independence Anniversary  Awards Gala on Saturday  at the Brighton  Convention and Event Centre in Toronto.

Addressing hundreds of Guyanese at the gala, she said that Guyana needs “all of us those who have remained at home and those of us who are in the Diaspora here in Canada, so that our nation will continue to grow and prosper.”

And Guyana’s president David Granger in a brief video message urged Guyanese  in the  wider Diaspora to visit their country.

Prominent Toronto lawyer Dhaman Kissoon, cardiologist  and religious leader Dr. Budhendranauth Doobay and retired Ontario judge Vibert Lampkin were among  16  Guyanese who received awards.

Other recipients of awards were as follows:

Education (Posthumous):  Dr. Percy Anderson,

Community Service: Janet Ferouz

Academic Excellence: Vivian S. Rambihar

Arts and Culture: Kwame Damon Mason

Business Excellence: Violet Smith and Ken Singh

Professionalism: Bishop Joseph G. Fisher

Community Service: Guyana Christian Charities (Canada) Inc. and Senior Guyanese Friendship Association

Education: Patricia Moore

Science and Technology: Suresh Narine

Sports: Eon D’ Ornellas

Education (Posthumous ): Dr. Rudy Grant

Business Excellence (Posthumous): Norman Agustus Sue-Kam-Linh and Peter Pitamber

Community Service (Posthumous): Joan De Barros

Individual under 30: Pere Deroy