— reaffirmed Govt’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable development
His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali urged Guyanese to use the country’s rich cultural diversity as a bridge to unity and a foundation for national development during the official opening of the Guyana Festival 2026 at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.
The Festival, held under the theme “Song, Soul and Taste,” is one of several activities to commemorate Guyana’s 60th Independence anniversary.
In his address, President Ali said that the anniversary must be used as a moment of national reflection and recommitment.
“The 60th anniversary of Guyana’s Independence is therefore a time for recommitment: a recommitment to unity; a recommitment to inclusion; a recommitment to the idea of ‘One Guyana’. Not as a slogan, but as a lived reality.”
The Head of State reminded the gathering that Guyana’s Independence in 1966 marked more than a change in political status. He said it represented the start of a journey to define the country by its own national identity, rather than by the divisions imposed under colonial rule.
“Sixty years ago, our flag, the Golden Arrowhead, was raised for the first time when Guyana became an independent nation. That moment did not only change our country’s political status. More importantly, it represented the beginning of a new journey as one people, one nation and with one destiny in mind.”
President Ali said that Guyana’s cultural diversity remains one of the country’s greatest assets and notedthat the histories, journeys, cultures, and traditions of Guyana’s six races: African, East Indian, Amerindian, European, Chinese and Portuguese, have all contributed to Guyana’s national identity.
The President asserted that while colonial rule deliberately used differences to divide people, Independence gave Guyanese the opportunity to build a society in which diversity becomes a source of strength.
“Colonialism did not leave us divided by accident; it left us divided by design.”
He added that “The promise of independence was never just political freedom. It was the possibility of the emergence of a new society, one in which our cultural differences would not be a source of division, but a source of strength.”
President Ali urged Guyanese to make the 60th anniversary a decisive turning point in the national journey.
“Let us use culture as a bridge. Let us use our multicultural heritage to celebrate and unite.”
The Head of State added that the theme Song, Soul and Taste captures the essence of Guyana’s cultural identity. He described song as the country’s voice, soul as the spirit of resilience, and taste as an expression of Guyanese hospitality and shared heritage.
“When we bring song, soul, and taste together, we are simply not hosting a festival. We are telling the world: this is what a united multicultural society looks like when it embraces itself fully, and this is what ‘One Guyana’ is about.”
The President also emphasised that ‘One Guyana’ must become an operating principle of national life.
‘One Guyana’ does not erase differences. It transforms differences, refusing to accept our diversity as a fault line, and instead making it into a foundational principle of our national identity.”
He said unity must be built on dignity, respect and inclusion.
“Through ‘One Guyana’, we say that unity is not sameness. Unity is respect for differences. Unity is respect for diversity. Unity is dignity for all.”
President Ali also called on Guyanese to leave behind the politics of suspicion, ethnic comparison and the belief that one group’s advancement requires another’s decline.
He said Guyana is now entering a period of unprecedented opportunity, but cautioned that national prosperity must be managed in a way that strengthens social cohesion.
“Never before in our history have we had the resources, the global attention, and the economic possibilities that we now enjoy. But prosperity alone does not guarantee unity.”
The President underscored his Government’scommitment to inclusive and sustainable development, noting that the benefits of national growth must be widely shared, fairly distributed, transparently delivered and collectively celebrated.
“Because when development is inclusive, unity becomes natural. When development is exclusive, division becomes inevitable.”
President Ali said Guyana Festival 2026 is therefore not merely a decorative event, but an essential part of the national project of building unity.
“Culture is therefore not a side attraction of nation-building. It is a part of the main story of nation building.”
Making a special appeal to young people, President Ali urged them not to inherit old prejudices or repeat divisions that do not serve their generation.
“You are not responsible for the divisions of the past. But you hold a responsibility for the unity of the future…I place my trust in you, our young people. You are the generation that can turn diversity into destiny.”
President Ali also called on all Guyanese to celebrate Independence by celebrating each other and recommitting to building a stronger, more united country.
“Let us celebrate our diversity as a treasure to be embraced. Let us commit ourselves to a Guyana where song is shared, where soul is united, and where taste is a reflection of our collective richness.”