Pictured (back, l to r) are: Dr. Roy Hastick, Chairman, Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc.; Dr. Basil K. Bryan, Consul General, Jamaica; Thompson; Tony Best, Senior Editor, CaribNews and North American Editor, Nation Newspapers; Dr. Leslie Lewis, Professor of Biology, York College, CUNY; Bishop Cecil Riley, Pastor, Freedom Hall Church of God; (front, l to r) Hon. Dame Billie A. Miller, Senior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade; Dr. Marco Mason, Executive Director, Caribbean Women’s Health Association; Rev. Philius Nicolas, Senior Pastor, Evangelical Crusade of Fishers of Men; Jean Alexander, Executive Director, the Caribbean American Center of New York; and, Jennefier Ewers, Owner, Brawta Caribbean Café.

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New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. honored five New Yorkers of Caribbean descent for their accomplishments at his 2004 Caribbean Heritage and Culture celebration that took place on Wednesday, September 22, 2004.

The event, which was co-hosted by the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and the Caribbean Women’s Health Association, celebrated the strong bonds of friendship and community between the city and the island nations of the Caribbean.

“This is a celebration of shared communities, shared histories and shared dreams,” Thompson said. “The honorees are educators, entrepreneurs, journalists and community advocates that have reached Olympic heights in the careers. We are proud of the accomplishments they have made to their field and their community.”

During the event, Thompson also talked about the tragedy of Hurricane Ivan which, devastated the Caribbean. The Comptroller’s office launched a relief drive that shipped cases of food, infant and toddler clothing and other much-needed supplies to families affected by the disaster.

The distinguished honorees for the event were: Jean Alexander, Executive Director, Caribbean American Center of New York; Richard “Tony” Best, Senior Editor, “Carib News,” North American Editor, Nation Newspapers – Barbados; Jennefier Ewers, Owner, Brawta’s Caribbean Cafe; Henry Frank, Executive Director, Haitian Centers Council;and Leslie Lewis, Professor of Biology, York College, City University of New York.

The Pan Sonatas Steel Orchestra of Brooklyn performed at the event.

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