[Washington, D.C.] – The Institute of Caribbean Studies ICS) will hold the 12th Annual Caribbean American Heritage Awards (CARAH) Gala on Friday, November 18, 2005 at the JW Marriott, National Place in Washington, DC.
The gala honors and celebrates individuals of Caribbean heritage, or friends of the Caribbean who have been standard bearers of excellence and who have made positive contributions to the American and international landscape.
Since its inception ICS Caribbean American Heritage Awards Gala has attracted the Caribbean-American Who’s Who, with attendance in 2004 approaching five hundred.
The nominees for 2005 include:
Sir Vivian Richards, Legendary Cricketer – (Antigua)
Dr. Thelma Thompson, President, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore -(Jamaica)
E.R. Braithwaite Author, “To Sir With Love” – (Guyana)
Emmanuel Cherubin, CEO, WAVS FM Radio Miami – (Haiti)
Sir John Goddard, former CEO, Goddard Enterprises – (Barbados)
Arrow “Hot! Hot! Hot!” Cassell, Soca Giant – (Montserrat)
The event, which is under the patronage of the Caribbean Diplomatic Corps, is co-chaired by Congresswoman Donna Christensen and Hon. Michael Misick, chief minister of the Turks and Caicos. Hosts are John Blake, Caribbean Experience, WHUR 96.3 FM and Maureen Bunyan, WJLA Channel 7.
Past keynote speakers and honorees include Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony of St. Lucia; Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados; Earl Graves, publisher of Black Enterprise; Hon. Kweisi Mfume, president, NAACP; former Deputy US Attorney General Eric Holder (of Barbadian heritage); actress CCH Pounder (Guyanese heritage); Geoffrey Holder, artiste extraordinaire, Trinidadian; Sir George Alleyne (Barbadian); Ronald Williams, president of Prince Georges Community College (Barbadian); Dawnn Lewis, television and film actress (Guyanese); Ambassador Andrew Young; Joseph Marcel, Jeffrey on “Fresh Prince of Bel Air”; and Von Martin, Host, Caribbeana, WPFW.
The Gala will follow the Leadership Dialogue on “Beyond Relief: Towards Economic Regeneration in the Caribbean”, which will also be held on Friday, November 18th, 2005 at the J.W. Marriott. The themes will include Tourism, Small Business and Micro-Enterprise and Financial Sectors.
