Adrianna Younge to be honored posthumously at Guyana Independence Festivities in Brooklyn

The Brooklyn-based Guyana Independence Celebration Committee New York (GICCNY) said on Wednesday, May 14, that it will honor Guyana’s 11-year-old murder victim Adrianna Younge at Guyana’s annual Independence Parade and Celebration in Brooklyn on June 1.

The celebration, which marks Guyana’s 59th Anniversary of Independence, will comprise the Independence Parade on Church Avenue, Brooklyn, the flag-raising and award ceremony, and the grand Guyana Independence Unity Concert at 1450 Utica Ave. Brooklyn, between Glenwood Road and Farragut Road.

GICCNY said the murder of Younge in Guyana has “rocked Guyana, and has inspired people from all walks of life, races, ethnicity, and creed worldwide to come together for a common purpose – the pursuit of justice and to realize the aspiration of unity.

“The impact of her death will be momentous and indelible,” GICCNY said. “Consequently, Guyana’s Independence commemoration in New York 2025 has been dedicated to Adrianna Younge’s memory, and will include a powerful tribute to Adrianna, as well as the presentation of a posthumous US Congressional Proclamation for Adrianna in recognition of life and to celebrate her memory and legacy.”

Additionally, GICCNY said the annual Guyanese Independence Parade has been redesignated “the Adrianna Younge Justice March.”

“Therefore, we ask all Guyanese and friends of Guyana in the New York tri-state area and beyond to attend, and celebrate her life,” it said.

GICCNY said the Parade/Adrianna Younge Justice March kicks off at noon on Church and Brooklyn Avenues in Brooklyn. It will proceed east on Church Avenue, south on Utica Avenue, and conclude at the concert venue at 1450 Utica Avenue, Brooklyn.

GICCNY said the Unity Concert begins at 3:00 p.m. and will be preceded by the flag-raising and award ceremony.

GICCNY said the ceremony will feature prominent Guyanese DJs, radio personalities, and “a surprise Caribbean international superstar artiste. ”

It said it will present the customary Kaieteur Award of Distinction and United States Congressional Proclamations to outstanding Guyanese at home and in the Diaspora, among others.

GICCNY said the 2025 honorees include Dr. Gregory Benn, M.D; Sookranie Dhanpat of the office of New York Mayor Eric Adams; Dr. Orin Douglas, M.D; Linda of Linda’s Restaurant, Church Avenue, Brooklyn; Sharon Barnwell, CEO of Caribbean International Shipping, Atlanta, GA; Guyanese Member of Parliament and Shadow Attorney General, Senior Counsel, Roysdale Ford; and Vice President for Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh day Adventist Dr. David McKenzie.

Others are: Guyanese Member of Parliament Nima Flu Bess; Adrianna Younge (posthumous); Brooklyn Mechanic Harry Hazle; Deputy Warden Duayne John, New York City Department of Corrections; Akira Mackel, general manager of the Newport Hospitality Group/Marriott Hotels, Grater Philadelphia; and Chelsea Grant, marketing and DSP relations manager, Rutgers State University of New Jersey.

“This celebration is the largest Guyanese celebration outside of Guyana, and the one of the largest for West Indian celebrations in New York City after the Labor Day parade,” said GICCNYG, stating that, each year, the celebration “attracts thousands of attendees, and over one million online viewers via our website and social media.”