FLATBUSH — More than 10,000 people flooded Flatbush for the Guyana Diamond Jubilee Independence parade this June, celebrating 60 years of Guyanese independence from the U.K. and Brooklyn’s strong Guyanese diaspora.
The parade started along Church Avenue, with attendees decked out in green, red, white, gold and black — the colors of the Guyana flag. The crowd swelled to between 10,000 and 15,000 people as the parade entered Linden Boulevard, according to organizers, then marched and danced on into Rockaway Avenue. Five music trucks kept the party jumping with Guyanese and other soca music until the parade culminated at the Unity Concert venue on Foster Avenue in Canarsie.
Photo: Guyana Independence Celebration Committee New York
At the Unity Concert, renowned vocalist Dr. Cherryann Hislop opened with a rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Lisa Punch, a musician and former Miss Guyana titleholder, followed by singing the Guyanese national anthem. Rickford Burke, chair of the Guyana Independence Committee, delivered welcome remarks, followed by Grand Marshals Congressmember Yvette Clarke and Jayden Andries, the top-performing student on the 2025 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams in Guyana.
Several elected officials, including New York City Councilmembers Chris Banks and Mercedes Narcisse, as well as New York State Assemblymembers Monique Chandler-Waterman and Jamie Williams, greeted the crowd. Democratic Leader in the Congress Hakeem Jeffries also took to the stage, declaring that he was proud to represent Guyanese Americans in “Region Eleven.” Jeffries stated that he and his colleague, Clarke, as joint representatives of the largest community of Guyanese in the U.S., will continue to fight for the rights of Guyanese both in the U.S. and in Guyana.
The AYAM Entertainment Group also performed, showcasing the rich tapestry of Guyana’s ethnic groups, while paying homage to the Yoruba singers in “This is Guyana!”
Photo: Guyana Independence Celebration Committee New York
Drummers Jermaine Fifee and Akoyaw Rudd brought the theme “Feel the Riddim of the Nation, the Nation @ 60” to life with a medley of folk songs that evoked nostalgia among the attendees.
Other performers included Super Terry — the one-man band, DJs Paytriad, Energy MNB Jay, Fari, GT Boss, Flex and Eazze, who kept the energy high. The audience also enjoyed conscious reggae music from Pablo G, Ras Redemption and Zebulun De Counselor. They were followed by dancehall artistes Kira Devine, Okeke, Jace Jay, Trev Mulah, Mafi, War Child, Vibes Mattic, Nia, Stretch, Sactz, Gazzie 19, Bruck Up, Mitr3 and SpinCity Chris.
The energy ramped up when the concert transitioned to the Soca segment, where Trinidad Killa treated the concert goers to his hit collaboration with Nicki Minaj. Brandon Harding, Guyana’s two-time Soca Monarch and Guyana’s Jingle Competition champion, also took the stage.
Closing the show, seven-time Guyana Soca Monarch and former lead singer of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Jumo Primo, aka “Rubber Waist,” took the spotlight and brought the house down for a final encore. Popular Guyanese DJ “Red Rum” and Nekita Luke hosted the show.
Committee President Rickford Burke said, “Our Guyanese, especially our young people — over 10,000 strong — showed up and represented Guyana and our Guyanese culture with unprecedented pride.”