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Vincentians celebrate independence in US capital
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| Published on Friday, November 6, 2009 | Email To Friend Print Version
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WASHINGTON, USA -- Vincentians celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the Independence of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) with a gala event at the ornate and historic “Hall of the Americas” of the Organization of American States (OAS) headquarters building in Washington, DC, on Saturday 31st October 2009.
The annual Independence Dinner/Dance, under the patronage of the Ambassador of SVG, La Celia Prince, was organized by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Nationals Association (SVGNA) of Washington, DC, and attracted nationals and well-wishers from neighboring states, and as far away as South Florida. The event marked the culmination of celebrations, which began on Sunday 25th with a Thanksgiving Service at the Church of the Holy Comforter in Washington, DC. The Embassy of SVG hosted a reception at OAS headquarters on Tuesday 27th, Independence Day.
After a cocktail hour in the Atrium, with background music performed by Vincentian pannist Wentworth Richardson, guests repaired to the Hall of the Americas for the main activities, which were chaperoned by Eppie Marecheau, the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies. The Invocation, by Wesley Jackson, was followed by the singing of the national anthems of the United States and SVG. The formal proceedings began with an address by the President of SVGNA, Lennox Simon, who welcomed participants, and thanked his organizing committees. In her address, Ambassador Prince reflected on the expectations, anxieties and achievements associated with the attainment of the age of 30, both as individuals and as a nation.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr Wendell Samuel, a native of SVG. Dr Samuel is Senior Economist and Mission Chief in the Caribbean 1 Division of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Western Hemisphere Department. Dr Samuel spoke about, “recent economic developments in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries, and the prospects for the year ahead.”
The eminent Caribbean economist stated that the 30th anniversary of SVG’s independence is turning out to be the worst year of the post independence, post colonial era for OECS countries, with the global economy going through the worst recession in 60 years, the collapse of the Trinidad based CL Financial Group spilling over to the OECS, and SVG in particular, thereby threatening to wipe out 1 billion dollars in savings in the sub-region. Looking to the future, Dr Samuel said that 2010 would be another year of belt-tightening, and emphasized the enhanced role of remittances in this scenario.
The highlight of the evening’s formal proceedings was the presentation of awards to five distinguished Vincentian nationals for their outstanding contributions in the professions, diplomacy, and the development of the Vincentian community at home and abroad. The 5 honorees of SVGNA on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the political independence of SVG were:
Betty Eileen King, for her work in the US philanthropic and health sectors, and her service as US Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (1997-2001). She has recently been nominated, by President Barack Obama, as US Representative to the Office of the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, with the rank of Ambassador. She is awaiting confirmation by the Senate;
Kingsley C.A. Layne, CMG, for his many-faceted contributions to SVG; Distinguished international public servant; Established SVG’s Embassy in Washington, DC; First resident Ambassador to the US; Permanent Representative to the UN and OAS; Negotiated establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba; First Ambassador of SVG to Cuba; Spearheaded the formation of COSAGO, the Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organizations USA, Inc; Dean of Caribbean Community and OAS ambassadors; OAS Director in the Republic of Suriname (2001-2004); international consultant;
Dr Baldwin King, for his contribution to science; Senior Chemistry teacher, St. Vincent Grammar School, (1964-65); Research Fellow, Dupont chemical company, Parlin, New Jersey; Lecturer in Chemistry, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica (1971-79); Professor of Chemistry, Drew University, Madison, New Jersey; Chairman, Department of Chemistry, (1983-88 &2003-2005); Research in Inorganic Medical Chemistry, especially inorganic anti-cancer agents; major supporter of education in SVG, and fundraiser for the St. Vincent Grammar School;
Clemon M. Dopwell, for his consistent contributions in sports, culture and community activities; Co- founded the Gladiators Cultural Club of Layou, with Alston “Beckett” Cyrus; Captained the first team from outside the boundaries of Kingstown to play competitive soccer in SVG, Gladiators FC; Member, Cavaliers Sports Club, New York; Co-founder Swansea Soccer Club, the first soccer club to represent SVG in the Brooklyn Soccer League; Founding member SVGNA; Founder of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Association of Florida in 1997, while working in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl;
Dr Roy L. Austin; Teacher, sportsman, and Carnival bandleader in SVG before emigrating to the US in 1964 to study sociology at Yale University, where he was a classmate of the future president George W. Bush; PhD University of Washington, 1973; Associate Professor of Sociology, Justice and African American Studies; Director of the Crime, Law and Justice Program at Penn State, 1994-1998; Director of the African Research Center, July 2001; US Ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 2001-2008.
The evening’s formalities concluded with the presentation of prizes and the drawing of the raffle for the traditional Grand Prize, a basket of goodies from SVG, and then dancing through the night when the clock is turned back one hour to facilitate daylight saving time, and an extra hour of enjoyment. | | | | Reads : 581 | | | |
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