Caribbean American Heritage Month Celebrated by City Council

ight on speeches and heavy on entertainment – that combination proved to be a real hit at the recent Caribbean American Heritage Month celebration, sponsored by the New York City Council. The event was held in the Surrogate Court rotunda instead of the City Council Chamber, the usual site for such events, because, as Council Member Kendall Stewart explained, the City Council was holding an unforeseen but crucial meeting there to approve the City budget.

The evening began with a reading of the historic proclamation by the President of the United States declaring June Caribbean American Heritage Month. It states, "For centuries, Caribbean Americans have enriched our society and added to the strength of America. They have been leaders in government, sports, entertainment, the arts, and many other fields." It ends by encouraging "all Americans to learn more about the history of Caribbean Americans and their contributions to our Nation."

The passage of this Presidential Proclamation came about through several years of unstinting effort by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS), a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to advocacy and action on issues that impact the Caribbean. The ICS is headed up by the indomitable Dr. Claire Nelson, who came from Washington DC to accept a City Council proclamation honoring the organization. As she received the award from Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Member Stewart, Nelson declared, "My goal is that in five years, every state will celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month."

The celebration, which wove together the awarding of citations and proclamations with diverse artistic performances, honored the English, French, and Spanish speaking countries throughout the Caribbean. Even a white US-born woman, Dianne Marshall, performed an original song telling of living in Jamaica and falling in love with the country. Samuel Clarke, Alvin Pierre, Hilton Samuel, and Evangelist Wendy Mitchell also delivered moving vocal performances.

Getting the dance performances off to a great start was Kara Neptune with her welcome to all the Caribbean nations. Performing Caribbean folk dances was Rosa Dancin’ – Belle, followed later by the equally remarkable Propapma Dance Company from Panama, which performed some of their native dances. A very young dancer from Future Leaders for Christ also brought the house down with her praise dance.

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And what is a Caribbean celebration without steel pan? Freddy Harris from the Sesame Flyers steel pan orchestra thrilled the audience with a medley of tunes. Original poems were also delivered by Guyanaian James Richmond and by Angela Cooper, a native of Tobago, who read her poem "One Caribbean, One People, One Destiny" before leading the Caribbean Choral in the African song "Nungunga" in honor of the African ancestors from whom much of the Caribbean population descended.

Consul Generals from throughout the Caribbean were also present and received special citations. They included Consul Generals Dr. Harold Robertson of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Basil K. Bryan of Jamaica, Zilpha Theodore of Dominica, and Cosmus Cozier of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Also on hand were Ambassadors to the United Nations H.E. Ruth Elizabeth Rouse of Grenada and Crispin S. Gregoire of Dominica.

Eight highly respected Caribbean American community leaders were also given City Council proclamations, presented to them by Council Members Kendall Stewart, who hails from tiny Union Island off St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Yvette Clarke, who is of Jamaican heritage. Noting Clarke’s front-runner status for the Congressional seat being vacated by Major Owens, Stewart warned the audience humorously yet seriously, "Listen to her carefully because this just might be the last time you hear her speak as a councilmember. The next time she may be a Congresswoman."

The awardees were as follows:

Romeo Hitlall, a native of Guyana, who is very active in promoting the region’s music and culinary culture as well as educating the East Indian community on matters concerning women’s health,

Florentine Roberts, who was born in Antigua and Barbuda and works with several civic organizations that benefit her native country,

Haitian-born Dr. Joel Rigueur, who is employed by the New York State Office of Disability as a pediatric and psychiatric consultant,

Lorna Phillips, from Dominica, who is a founding member of the Dominica Patriots and the Dominica American Relief and Development Association, Inc.,

Clyde A. Griffith, a native of Barbados, who is an advisor to the Barbados government on the African American market,

Panamanian Yolanda Austin Martin-Grimaldi, who, as a certified Emergency Medical Technician, serves many of New York’s needy populations,

Vera Eslie Weekes, born in Montserrat, who is Assistant Director of the Caribbean Research Center at Medgar Evers College and a founding member of the Caribbean American Unity Outreach/Inreach for inmates and their families, and

Grenadian Derek Ventour, who has worked tirelessly to share his country’s culture with the people of New York.

Four Caribbean-oriented community organizations also received well-deserved City Council citations.