Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow, permanent representative and ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Guyana to the United Nations, and Barbara Atherly, consul general of Guyana to New York, led a contingent in the Parade of Nations, during UN Staff Day on Friday, Sept. 7.
Dressed in national ensembles, the compatriots represented their country with pride as they waved Guyana’s Golden Arrowhead flag, at the hours long celebration, co-emceed by Guyanese Sherifa Khan at the UN Headquarters in NYC.
Immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, and other world countries, participated.
Ambassador Ten-Pow, who was elected vice president for the upcoming 73rd UN General Assembly, in his address thanked the staff council, and the many staff volunteers for planning, “another rich Staff Day program that puts the spotlight where it rightly belongs — on the young men and women who are the beating hearts of the United nations — the dedicated servants of the peoples of the world,” said the diplomat.
“As we look around the world today, yes, there has been progress. Hundreds of millions of people were lifted out of poverty, ignorance and disease, and an ambitious and action oriented agenda to ensure that progress continues and that no one on this plant that we share, is left behind.
“We have mobilized the countries of the world to adopt norms and standards to protect our environment for future generations and to ensure that development is sustainable, people-centered and inclusive,” noted Ten-Pow.
In remembering UN colleagues who recently passed, Ambassador Ten-Pow spoke of the norms and standards that promote human rights and celebrate diversity so that “today we can honor our dear departed Secretary General, Kofi Anna, a son of Ghana, and grieve our colleague, Janice Manmohan, a daughter of Trinidad and Tobago.”
The diplomat who began his career as a translator and précis-writer, whether in remote Angolan villages as a volunteer in UNAVEM ll, or in his home base in the town of Gobabis, Namibia, as a volunteer in UNTAG or in Tegucigalpa, Honduras helping to set up a translation and interpreting service for the UN Observer Group in Central America noted his service was all for a better cause.
“Let today also be a day of reflection on the role that you have been given — both the opportunity and honor to play in this challenging enterprise on which member states of the organization have embarked — to make our world a kinder, gentler, a safer place and a place where each of us, no matter our race, our religion, our gender or our sexual orientation, can live our life to its fullest.”
“On behalf of the member states, who greatly value you and the work that you do, I wish you a happy Staff Day,” said Ambassador Ten-Pow.
The day’s celebration concluded with a talent show, that included performances by Guyanese entertainer, Courtney Noel, who debut his song “All My Love,” and a poem by senior staff, Jennifer Branche. Popular promoter and senior UN employee Mark Anthony, a 2017 nominee for then Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon prize, was the co-emcee.
