Queens Borough Prez honors Guyana
The Lawrence ‘Larry’ Morrish Way
By Tangerine Clarke
A beam of sunlight shone down at the
corner of 101st Avenue and Forth Hamilton
Parkway, Brooklyn, on May 18, as
the co-naming street sign — Lawrence
“Larry” Morrish Way, unveiled to honor
the late veteran, and outstanding community
leader, who was the husband of
Guyanese-American Etiquette Specialist,
and COO of Behind the Veil Weddings
& Events Planning, Inc. Phillipa
Morris.
Larry, as he was fondly called, was
a permanent feature in the Guyanese
community, so much so, that he became
an honorary member of the ex-Guyana
Defence Force veterans association in
New York.
On his first trip to Guyana, many
years ago, Larry received an honor
guard welcome, from the moment he
deplaned, and escorted by military
motorcade along the streets of the
Caribbean L 44 ife, May 24–30, 2019
Honorees expressing thanks to Queens Borough President, Melinda Katz, are Rozanna Beaumont, (Patricia Jordan
Langford accepted) Lloyd Judah, Romesh D. Kalicharran (posthumous), (Judith Kalicharran accepted), Shri
Devi Mandir, and Pastor James Richmond. Consul General, Barbara Atherly, center, and Mohamed Hack, extreme
right, are also pictured. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Republic.
During the unveiling ceremony that
included military personnel from the
Forth Hamilton Army base where he
served, widow, Phillipa Morrish said she
proudly listened to Larry’s influence in
shaping many lives, “but it was an even
greater satisfaction to see the young
people he mentored, now taking the
reins of leadership.”
She said the youths are now the
public servants in positions to take
over from him and his generation, and
felt that the youth had Larry, a good
role model in public service. “He did so
much yet expected so little in return,”
she said of her deceased husband.
“At the time of Larry’s visit to Guyana,
he was the liaison between Congress
and the military base at Fort
Hamilton. He used his position to help
not only establish links between XGDF
and the US military, but was arranging
to have used ambulances shipped
to Guyana when 9-11 occurred, and all
vehicles were recalled into active service,”
said Mrs. Morrish, who thanked
the XGDF service members for attending
the dedication ceremony.
Phillipa reiterated her favorite statement:
“he was one of God’s best, and I
was so fortunate to share him.” I have
always felt that his love, and eventual
loss, was not mine alone to share. The
entire community misses him.”
According to a report, Commander of
the base, Col. Andrew Zieseniss, spoke
of Larry’s legacy in helping to keep
the base open each time it came up for
closure, by putting forward its importance
to the surrounding residents of
Bay Ridge.
His decades of contributions to the
base were highlighted, in addition
to building bridges between various
religious groups. He helped organize
a ‘Unity Task Force’, which brought
together leaders of all religious groups
in the area to work together for peace.
Larry’s street co-naming, at the
entrance of the Fort Hamilton Military
installation was aptly named: The
“Larry Morrish Way.”
By Tangerine Clarke
Queens Borough President Melinda
Katz hosted for the fourth time a fitting
tribute to Guyanese as they celebrate their
country’s 53 Anniversary of Independence.
The event was held at the Helen Marshall
Cultural Center in Queens Borough Hall,
named for the late, first African-American
Borough President of Guyanese roots.
While the Borough president could not
be there to enjoy the celebration herself,
Guyanese American cultural affairs director,
Mohamed Hack, served as host for the
evening event, which showcased Guyana’s
rich cultural heritage.
Hack welcomed expatriates, to where
he called the headquarters of 190 countries
with 200 languages. “We live very
happy and respectful of each other here in
Queens, Guyana has six races of people, so
I ask Guyanese to inculcate this.”
“Our consul general and others are trying
very hard to bring Guyanese together.
The time is now. We need to see our native
land sparkle in the world,” he urged the
gathering, while boasting about Guyana’s
upcoming wealth from oil reserves.
Consul General of Guyana to NY, Barbara
Atherly, in turn, thanked the Borough
President, Melinda Katz and the
Independence Planning Committee for
inviting her office to share in the celebrations
of the Republic’s 53rd Independence
Anniversary, calling on residents of
Queens to be more supportive of events
such as this.
“Guyana has made positive strides since
attaining Independence in 1966 and continues
to develop daily,” she said.
“We should be encouraged to be good
examples to the younger generations, our
leaders of tomorrow. We, Guyanese at home
and in the Diaspora can help in nation
building by contributing to the social and
economic prospects and expanded opportunities.
This is a time for national unity,
solidarity and a restoration of our beautiful
Guyana for all Guyanese,” said the CG.
“As we celebrate our 53rd Independence
Anniversary, let us salute those that fought
for our independence and move forward
with purpose. There is no challenge that
could withstand the strong resolve of our
nation. Let us promote unity and integrity
to demonstrate the true meaning of our
motto — One People, One Nation, One
Destiny,” she said Happy Independence to
you all!
During the celebration, nationals,
Rozanna Beaumont, Lloyd Judah, Romesh
D. Kalicharran (posthumous), Shri Devi
Mandir, and Pastor James Richmond were
presented with citations from the Queens
Borough President’s Office, for their sterling
contributions to their community.
Independence Committee members
Bena Angilini, Anup Ramnath, Mohamed
Salim, and Malini Shah, made the presentations.
Pastor James Richmond, City of Refuge
SDA, Pandit TilakdharrySeerattan, of the
Shri Devi Mandir, and Imam Mohamed
IIham, Masjid Ar-Rahman prayed for Guyana,
followed by a Color Guard presentation,
by Guyanese-born, NYPD Officer
Khyume Khan and APO Urmela Autar
of the NYPD Desi Society, and Guyanese
Law-Enforcement Association (GALEA).
Phillipa Morrish, George Morris, and
Mrs. Morrish’s niece Gillian, holding
the street sign co-named for the late
veteran, Lawrence “Larry” Morrish.
Phillipa Morrish