GUSDA Awardee Citations
John Charles David
Awarded posthumously to GUSDA’s late Vice-Chair John David in recognition of his outstanding and inspirational contribution to GUSDA and the wider Guyanese Community in the UK. As a GUSDA member, John served in various roles on our Executive Committee. He was our valued Treasurer for several years and, more recently, served as Vice Chair. His contributions were not just in titles but in the passion, dedication, and genuine care he brought to his roles. His generosity extended beyond words, as he freely shared his time and resources for the betterment of GUSDA and the wider community. Loved and respected by all members, John’s impact on our Association was immeasurable. He was a driving force behind GUSDA’s major events - the Annual Guyana Folk Festival and the Guyana Family Sports and Fun Day. GUSDA’s 2024 Guyana Folk Festival was held in memory of John. John’s award was received by his widow, Margaret David.
Doris Harper-Wills
Awarded in recognition of her outstanding lifetime contribution to Guyanese Arts and Culture, the GUSDA Guyana Diaspora Award goes to the inspirational Doris Harper-Wills. In May 1966, Doris featured with Gora Singh in the first ever Guyana Independence Celebrations! As such it was a special honour to be able to present Doris with GUSDA’s lifetime achievement award on Independence Day, 58 years later. She was an international performer with performances in Brazil, New York, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Canada and of course, London. From 1976 to 1991, Doris was the Artistic Director at the Commonwealth Institute and London Entertains. She is a prize-winning poet and storyteller. What Doris enjoys most is keeping alive the history and folk culture of Guyana and the wider Caribbean through costumes, music, and dance. And she does that up to this day!
Reverend Canon Roxanne F. Eversley
Awarded in recognition of her appointment as First Dean of Cultural Diversity and Canon Librarian in the Diocese of Southwark. Roxanne has been a member of the Diocese of Southwark for some thirty years. As a member of the laity at St Augustine’s Church Tooting, she was the Secretary of the Parochial Church Council and a member of the Choir. In 2007, Roxanne attended Theological College – the College of the Resurrection in West Yorkshire. After two years, Roxanne was ordained Deacon and served her Curacy at St Mary’s Church, Newington, from where she was ordained Priest in 2010. She left St Mary’s in September 2013 to assume the post of Vicar of two Parishes, Holy Innocents and St Mark, South Norwood. In February this year, Roxanne was appointed the first Dean of Cultural Diversity for the Diocese of Southwark and Residentiary Canon Librarian at Southwark Cathedral. Roxanne is delighted with this new appointment as she continues to advocate for those in the under-represented groups in the Diocese.
June Givanni
Awarded in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Pan-African Cinema. June is a Guyanese-born London-based film curator. She has specialized in African-related movies since 1985 and has worked internationally as a film and television programme consultant and writer. She is also a member of the Africa Movie Academy Award jury. June is the 2024 recipient of the BAFTA Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award.
Keith Waithe
Awarded in recognition of
Ram John Holder
Awarded in recognition of
Mr Marlon
Awarded in recognition of
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