NCIS NOLA Actress In Guyana For 50th Independence Celebration

CCH Pounder in Guyana for the country’s 50th jubilee celebration poses with US-based radio show host, Selwyn Collins. (Facebook image)

By NAN Contributor

News Americas, GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Thurs. May 26, 2016: The CARICOM, South American nation of Guyana marks its golden jubilee of independence today and among the thousands of Guyanese from the U.S. Diaspora joining the festivities is a top Hollywood actress.

NCIS New Orleans’ CCH Pounder, who was born in Guyana in 1952, 14 years before the nation achieved independent status, is in the country to help mark the 50th of Guyana’s independence from Britain.

She is the daughter of Ronald Urlington Pounder. She was educated in England and moved to the U.S. in 1970, where she attended Ithaca College.

Pounder has been making the rounds at local events in the country’s capital, Georgetown and meeting with many nationals who are also fans of the CBS show where she plays medical examiner Dr. Loretta Wade.

Pounder made her acting debut in the film All That Jazz (1979). She has since appeared in numerous films, made-for-television films, television miniseries, and plays, and has made guest appearances on notable television shows. From 2002 to 2008, she starred as Detective Claudette Wyms in the FX police drama The Shield. In 2009, she appeared as Mo’at in James Cameron’s film Avatar. She starred in recurring roles as Mrs. Irene Frederic on the series Warehouse 13 until its series finale on May 19, 2014 and DA Tyne Patterson on the FX series Sons of Anarchy.

NY/NJ CELEBRATION

Meanwhile, the celebration will continue in New York City next week as Guyana’s 50th Independence Celebration Committee (New York) presents one-week of events to mark the country’s independence.

“Guyana Jubilee Celebration NYC” will run from June 4 – 12, 2016 and is billed as “the largest celebration outside of Guyana,” according to organizers in a statement Wednesday.

The NYC celebration will kick off on Saturday, June 4th at 1:00 P.M. with an Interfaith Service at the York College Performing Arts Theater, 94-45 Guy R Brewer Blvd, Jamaica, Queens NY 11451. An inter-county cricket match at 9:30 a.m., at the Idlewild Park at Springfield Blvd & 149th Ave., Rosedale, Queens will follow the Service.

A symposium on Guyana’s Independence journey is planned for Sunday, June 5th at 9:00 a.m., at the York College Large Lecture Theater: 94-20 Guy Brewer Blvd, Queens. On Monday, June 6th, there is an Exhibition of Guyanese Art at 10:00 a.m. at the Aljira Center for Contemporary Art: 591 Broad St, Newark, NJ. A live Radio broadcast from the famous Sybil’s Restaurant at 13217 Liberty Ave, Jamaica, Queens, takes place on Tuesday, June 7, at 7:00 p.m.

On Wednesday, June 8th, the Committee presents Guyanese Volunteer day where Guyanese Medical doctors, nurses and lawyers will provide free medical and legal services at various locations in Brooklyn, Queens & New Jersey. Locations are listed on the Committee’s website: www.celebrateguyana50thinnyc.com.

On Thursday, June 9th, an official Flag Raising Ceremony will be held at Newark City Hall Square,  920 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102 by the Mayor of Newark, Hon. Ras Baraka.

On Friday, June 10th, the committee will present the “Invest Guyana” Business & Investment conference at 9:00 a.m., at the Harvard Club of New York: 35 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036. Speakers will include: Guyana’s Ministers of Business, Finance, Natural Resources, Public Infrastructure, Tourism, Public Security, Social Cohesion and Agriculture.

On Saturday, June 11th, the Committee will present the President Cup Soccer tournament at the South Shore High School Park:  6565 Flatlands Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11236, (Corner of Ralph & Flatlands Avenues) at 10:00 a.m.

And later that night, on Saturday, June 11, at 8:00 p.m., at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel & Towers: 811 7th Avenue & W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, the week-long celebration continues with The Black Tie, Red Carpet, official Jubilee State Dinner featuring His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, President of Guyana.

Pounder will serve as Mistress of ceremonies for the event while former Leader of the British House of Lords and current President of SOAS University of London, Baroness Valerie Amos and ten  Ministers of the Government of Guyana will be guests of honor.

State Dinner tickets may be purchased on the Committee’s website at www.celebrateguyana50thinnyc.com, or from the Committee or the Guyana Consulate in New York City by calling 929-263-2556 or 212-947-5115. Tickets requests can also be emailed to nyc50thrsvp@gmail.com.

The grand finale of the Guyana Jubilee Celebration NYC will conclude with the Independence Parade (Mashramani) on Sunday, June 12th from 11:30 a.m., at the intersection of Church & Utica Avenues in Brooklyn, NY. The parade will proceed west to Ralph Ave, turn south into Ralph Ave and ends at Ralph and Flatlands Avenues – a 3.3 miles route.

A grand after-parade, Unity Concert will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, at South Shore High School Park: 6565 Flatlands Ave. Brooklyn NY 11236 (Corner of Ralph and Flatlands Avenue).

For more information of the New York Celebration visit: www.celebrateguyana50thinnyc.com.