African Association inaugurated
Plea made for preservation of identity


Stabroek News
November 10, 2000


The African Association of Guyana (AAG) was officially inaugurated on Saturday night at a dinner at the Hotel Tower, Georgetown.

Now in its second year, the AAG is a non-political organisation comprised at present of some 40 expatriate Africans living and working in Guyana and is headed by Senior Lecturer and Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Guyana (UG), John Cartey Caesar.

Caesar explained the existence of the group as a desire to foster and maintain unity among African nationals and to promote African culture in Guyana through a variety of information services, workshops and seminars. His speech to an array of prominent guests, including President Bharrat Jagdeo and member of the PNC Central Executive, Vincent Alexander, called for a preservation of the moral values of the African culture in Guyana in order to create "emotional security" for expatriates. Likening power to an arm which "must be handled with care", he cited respect, honour, hospitality and the wisdom of proverbs as examples of the African heritage from which all nations can learn.

In a powerful, rallying speech to the gathering, U.G. Professor of Music and French, Joycelyn Loncke urged that it was "important for the AAG to maintain the momentum" it has already achieved and reiterated Caesar's plea to maintain a strong sense of the African identity and heritage whilst in foreign lands. Building on the importance of unity and individual endeavour, she concluded that is was time for "all African Guyanese to put their shoulders to the wheel" lest the values of the African heritage become forgotten in the race for modernity.

After several welcoming addresses from Vincent Alexander, ex-patatriate African luminaries and members of the diplomatic corps, President Jagdeo took to the lectern stating that he was looking forward to the contribution the AAG will be making in the development of the country and thanking it for the contributions already made. He saw the inauguration of the AAG as a "rekindling of [the] spirit" of progress and a recognition of the pool of abilities and depth of cultural heritage readily available in Guyana today.

Expressing a desire to work towards a system where these abilities and cultural diversities might be tapped effectively and harmoniously, he warmly welcomed the official launching of the AAG remarking, "this is your home, let's treat it as such."


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