–President Ali tells New York Diaspora; affirms that it plays an integral role in building a stronger Guyana
–vows to work with community on Guyana Folk Festival

ATTEMPTS to divide the Guyanese community abroad remain fruitless as President Dr. Irfaan Ali has told members of the New York Diaspora that they play an integral role in building a stronger Guyana.

During a statement which was streamed live on his Facebook page on Sunday evening, the President addressed the attack which was launched by Rickford Burke’s organisation, Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), on those Guyanese-owned businesses in the diaspora that embraced the President during his visit to New York last week.
While reassuring them that they did not do anything wrong, President Ali reiterated his support for the community.

“My dear friends in the diaspora, you are an important part of our future. You’re an important part of building a stronger Guyana; you’re an important part of building prosperity in every home,” President Ali said.
“This opportunity gives us a point of honest reflection, it gives you an opportunity to measure these leaders by their actions, to measure these leaders by their narrative, to measure these so-called leaders by what exactly is their selfish desire,” he added while continuing to dismantle the “divisive” message that was being peddled by the CGID.

In relation to the verbal assault and the feelings of those Guyanese who were being attacked, Dr. Ali stated: “In the greatest challenge lies the greatest opportunity for victory. Let this be the moment of victory for Guyana.”
He also told the Guyanese community in New York that he will work with them as it relates to the annual Folk Festival, in order to display the true colours and nature of Guyana.
Last year, the Guyana Folk Festival organising committee made its contribution under the theme, “Recognising and celebrating its New York roots”.

In a document sent, the Brooklyn-based Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc published its first Online edition magazine for 2023.
The document also noted that the Guyana Folk Festival is a family day of the best in Guyanese culture, food, music and entertainment.
The Folk Festival gives Guyanese a taste of home, in that it provides an opportunity for Guyanese to get together, reminisce and reflect on how things were ‘back in the de day’. For the children of Guyanese parentage, people of the Caribbean, and other countries, the Folk Festival is an opportunity to experience this rich cultural heritage.

Participants are also treated to a variety of traditional Guyanese dishes, ranging from the mouth-watering main courses of curry and roti, pepperpot and cook-up to the delicious taste of salara, cassava pone, and pine tart, washed down with a glass of mauby or sorrel. According to an article published in the Guyana Chronicle dated August 14, 2022, one of the organisers of the event, Dr. Vibert Cambridge was quoted as saying, “The Guyana Folk Festival is an annual event organised by the Guyana Cultural Association of New York”.

The festival has been held in Brooklyn, New York for the past 22 years. The Guyana Folk Festival, organised by the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation in the early 1980s was the inspiration behind this event for the past 22 years,” Cambridge said.
President Ali, while pushing his agenda of unity, firmly stated: “We will bury the walls of the haters; we’ll crumble the foundation of the haters. We’ll destroy the superstructure of the haters, and we will replace it with love and unity; we’ll replace it with joy and prosperity.”

He added: “Do not fall for this racist narrative; support each other. Support each other’s businesses; grow with each, lift each other up. Help each other, strengthen each other, fortify each other, that is what we do as a family.”