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By Felicia Persaud |
The secretary general pointed especially to the issue of immigration and deportation, stating that it is the hope of the regional body, that "a more considerate approach (will be shown) by the United States government" because of the lobbying efforts of Caribbean nationals here.
But Carrington also told the approximately 100 attendees gathered, that Caricom is also ready to access not only their remittances but also their skills and ideas "to make a lasting and positive impact on the fortunes of our region."
"I am talking about the temporary vacation visits to assist in breaking bottlenecks in the communities from which you came or the schools which you attended," said Carrington. "I am talking about twinning arrangements between your newly adopted community and towns and villages back home."
He added, "Make no mistake about it, the encouragement from you our Caribbean brothers and sisters in the Diaspora can be a definite spur to our activities in forging a united Caribbean that has for so long been dreamt of." Carrington pointed especially to the upcoming negotiations for the FTAA the Free Trade Area of the Americas as well as the future relations with the European Union, as areas where unity is especially needed, now more than ever. "Our negotiating machinery therefore needs as much help as it can get technical and financial and even information and advice," added the secretary general.
The FTAA is set to come in to being in 2005 that will cover all countries in the world except Cuba.
Carrington also announced that a new examination, the Caribbean Advances Proficiency Examination (CAPE), would soon replace the Advanced Level Cambridge examinations that is widespread throughout the Caribbean. On a lig
hter
note, the Caricom secretary general urged all to attend the next
CARIFESTA, scheduled for Suriname in 2003.The Caribbean Voice event was the first of its kind in the Caribbean American community in New York. According to Annan Boodram, editor-in-chief, a more elaborate celebration will be planned to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Caricom next year.
The other keynote presenter at the event was British-based economist and scholar Avinash Persaud. The Barbadian-born financial guru challenged the audience to build on the wealth of their parents and not simply be driven only to spend.
Councilmember Yvette Clarke presented Carrington with a City Council Proclamation declaring June 21st Caricom Day in New York City.
Former Councilmember Una Clarke represented Governor George Pataki at the function and told Carrington that she, along with the 25-members of the Association of Caribbean-American Elected Officials, had applied to be observers of Caricom and were carefully monitoring issues of interest to the Caribbean community here and in the region. "I'm fully committed to doing everything for the Caribbean," said the Jamaican-born former councilmember.
The proceedings were emceed by WWRL Radio personality, Rennie Bishop. Also present at the function was Guyana's First Lady Uma Jagdeo who made an appeal for assistance for Kids First, a Guyana charity of which she is founder and patron.
Several local business leaders and community activists were presented with awards a gold pin inscribed with the Caribbean Voice insignia. Ralph Lauren model, Martiniquean-born Ralph Jacobs, was on hand to present the awards to the honorees who included Guyanese-born Attorney-at-Law Albert Baldeo, President of Sybil's Bakery Vibert Bernard, Marlon Seenarine, president of MGN Funding; Adrian Corbin, representing Pat Lawrence-Gaughton, president of Alken Tours/Apel Travel; Dr. Frank Henry, executive director of the Haitian Centers Council; Professor Reginald Minault, a consulant; Kenneth Mohan, owner of Era Big Apple Realty, Roma Marble and a catering hall; Leith Yetman, founder/president of the New York Institute of Business Technology; Christian Ruart, CEO of RC Productions; Patrick Weithers, president of Nu-Pulse Company of Maryland and Sandra Dixon Owens, president of the YWCA of Brooklyn.
Other honorees, who could not attend the event, include real estate magnates Jai Sharma, Harry Persaud, Rolande Lockhard and Shanti Ammar, Dennis Hawthorne of Dennis Shipping, Lowell Hawthorne of Golden Krust, Gandhi Whitehead of Slope Communications and Slope Shipping, Ramesh Kalicharran of Kali Group of Companie, Winston Thompson of Thompson and Company and Pierre Brooks of The Bird House.
The event was supported by Metropolitan Office Supplies, WWRL Radio, the Caribbean Voice newspaper, RBC Radio, MGN Funding, Sybil's Bakery, Shanti Ammar's Re/Max Realty, Jai Sharma's Service First Realty, Caribbeanbusinesscommunity.com and Reggae24.com.
In its third year of publication, The Caribbean Voice newspaper is the only publication that focuses on the Caribbean Diaspora. The CARICOM Day celebration was initiated in keeping with the newspaper's aim of linking the various sub groups of the Caribbean Diaspora, according to Annan Boodram.
The paper is also planning to launch the first Caribbean Film Festival in October in New York City. The festival committee is spearheaded by Dr. Juliet Emanuel, associate editor. Interested persons and entities can call Dr. Emanuel at 718-857-1545 or send email to JAEMANUEL@cs.com.