Guyanese in Qatar celebrate 60 years of independence

On Tuesday, Guyana's embassy in Qatar hosted an official celebration to mark the country's 60th Independence Anniversary at LuLu Abu Sidra Mall in Doha. President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali led the ceremony and delivered the keynote address. The event brought together key figures, including the chairman of Mohamed bin Hamad Holding, the Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Affairs and Business Development, distinguished guests, members of the diplomatic corps, government representatives, business leaders, members of the Guyanese community, and friends of Guyana in Qatar.

During the celebration, Guyana's ambassador to Qatar, Safraaz Shadood, welcomed the audience and introduced the evening's theme. The program featured the cutting of a cake symbolizing the country's 60th year of independence, highlighting the pillars of Guyana's national identity and international engagement. These pillars included entrepreneurship, art and culture, education and literature, and partnerships.

The celebration also marked the official launch of Umami, a Guyanese sauce brand that will be available through LuLu Hypermarket stores, as well as the launch of a children's book series by Guyanese author Julia Theresa Kanhai, with translations in Arabic and Malayalam.

An art and cultural exhibition showcasing Guyana's heritage, cultural diversity, natural beauty, and distinctive environment opened as part of the program. The exhibition will be available to the public, the diplomatic community, and friends of Guyana until September 12. The Doha event is part of Guyana's Diamond Jubilee year, commemorating six decades of independence and looking forward to a future of greater cooperation, innovation, opportunity, and international engagement.