Govt to host sunrise interfaith service for 60th Independence anniversary

The Government of Guyana has announced a Sunrise Glorification Service: “To God be Praised”, an interfaith activity to mark the country’s 60th Independence anniversary.
The event is scheduled for May 25 at 06:00h on the lawns of State House.
According to the announcement, the service is intended to reflect the Government’s commitment to fostering unity, understanding, and collaboration among Guyana’s diverse religious denominations.
The programme will include prayers, exhortations, and moments of collective reflection and gratitude. Religious leaders and devotees from across the country, along with representatives of various spiritual groups and members of the public, are expected to participate.
The Government said the observance is part of wider Independence Anniversary activities and is aimed at highlighting Guyana’s multicultural, multi-ethnic, and multireligious composition.
Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary celebrations were officially launched in April under the theme “Homecoming”, marking a major milestone in the country’s history with a packed calendar of cultural, tourism, and heritage events.
The launch, held at the Railway Courtyard, set the tone for what officials described as a year of reflection and national pride. Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues had said that the Diamond Jubilee observance is both a recognition of Guyana’s progress and a call for Guyanese across the world to reconnect with their roots.
She noted that the celebrations are taking place alongside continued growth in the tourism sector, pointing to record visitor arrivals and increasing international attention in publications such as Bloomberg, TIME, and The New York Times.
One of the key features of the programme is the return of the Guyana Festival, scheduled for May 15–17 at the Guyana National Stadium. The event will include heritage villages representing Guyana’s six peoples, cultural showcases, culinary experiences, and nightly entertainment.
The national calendar also includes “Taste of Guyana”, heritage site tours, and regional activities such as food festivals, lakeside camping, and riverine community showcases. Organisers say these events are intended to extend celebrations beyond the coast and into hinterland communities.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who also spoke at the launching, had said that the anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on national development. He pointed to achievements in governance, education, infrastructure, and the economy, describing the milestone as significant among nations that have reached six decades of independence.
Traditional observances, including the Independence Flag Raising Ceremony and a national interfaith service, are also part of the official calendar, reinforcing themes of unity and reflection.
The celebrations will culminate with Guyana Carnival Independence Weekend, organised in collaboration with Hits and Jams Entertainment, highlighting public-private partnerships in the cultural sector. Other events planned throughout the year include Origins, Guyana’s Fashion Festival, the One Guyana Worship Experience, and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference.