New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. with honorees (l to r) Monty Alexander, Musician; Felicia Persaud, CEO of Hard Beat Communications, Inc; David C. Collymore, M.D., Medical Director, Soundview Healthcare Network; Gardy Brazela, President, Friends United Block Association & Friends United Youth Program; Thompson and Marcia V. Keizs, Ed.D., President, York College, City University of New York at his Caribbean Heritage and Culture celebration at SEIU 32BJ Headquarters on Monday, June 11, 2007.  Photo Credit: Archer Hutchinson

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Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. honored five distinguished guests last night at his Caribbean heritage and Culture celebration, and presented a Lifetime Achievement award to Monty Alexander, the acclaimed pianist, band leader and arranger.

The event was co-sponsored by the Caribbean American Center of New York, the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Caribbean Women’s Health Association, and the West Indian-Day Carnival Association. The event was held at SEIU 32BJ.

“New York simply would not be New York without the Caribbean American communities that flourish here. Throughout the city, the traditions and culture of Barbados, the Bahamas, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago, and all of the islands, are alive and well, ” said Thompson

Thompson continued, “Every year, Caribbean Americans are playing a greater and more visible role in government at all levels and civic endeavors. We celebrate these contributions and this cultural blossoming. We also celebrate the strong bonds of friendship that exist between our city and the island nations of the Caribbean. With shared communities, shared histories, and shared dreams, New York and the countries of the Caribbean enjoy a special sense of fellowship.”

Monty Alexander, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, has spent a lifetime exploring the rich depths of musical and cultural diversity. He has been widely acclaimed for his ability to bring together the traditions of American jazz and Jamaican reggae, and has been equally at home in a small combo or a symphony orchestra. Over the years, he has performed and/or recorded with artists from various musical genres, including Frank Sinatra, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, Ernest Ranglin, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. Monty Alexander has delighted and inspired listeners throughout the world and forged brave new, ground in music.

The other honorees were:

• Gardy Brazela, native of Haiti and Founder and President of the Friends United Block Association, which provides programs and services in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn, and helps community members address quality of life concerns. Mr. Brazela also established the Friends United Youth Center, which provides the youth of the community with training in computer skills, basic life skills, homework help, and even piano lessons.

• Dr. Marcia V. Keiz is a indigenous to Jamaica and President of York College. Dr. Keiz has over 30 years experience in the CUNY system as both an administrator and a professor. Under Dr. Keizs’ leadership, York College has strengthened its academic programs, raised its admissions standards, boosted its student recruitment and retention, and raised its faculty grants by 80%. She is the founding editor of the New York Carib News, and has published articles in her area of specialty, Afro American literature.

• Dr. David Collymore was born in New York, is the second son of parents who immigrated to the United States from the island of Barbados. After graduating from Howard University Medical School at the age of 23 he joined the medical team at Soundview Health Center in the Bronx, specializing in pediatrics. After two years he was promoted to Medical Director of the Soundview Healthcare Network. Dr. Collymore is a member of the Board of Directors and the Clinical Committee of the Community Health Care Association of New York State, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Clinical Affairs Committee of the Affinity Health Plan.

• Felicia Persaud, born and reared in Guyana, is Founder of the news, public relations and advertising agency, Hard Beat Communications. She is also the creator of “Immigration Korner,” a column that seeks to provide accurate information on United States Immigration laws. Ms. Persaud is the winner of a New York Association of Black Journalists Award and two Independent Press Association Awards for excellence in writing…she also provides pro bono public relations assistance to the Caribbean Immigrant Services.

The Sesame Flyers International Steel Orchestra performed at the celebration.

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