ST. THOMAS, USVI – One hundred and fifty Barbadians and friends traveled by plane and ferry to once again renew friendships and gain enlightenment in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands.
Mr. Fitzgerald Rowe, a much respected Barbadian in the Virgin Islands, and his team, headed by Mrs. Knolah Nicholls-Thomas, President of the St. Thomas; must be commended for hosting a memorable week.
This year, NABO highlighted the strengths of its members, by showcasing their expertise in various subjects. The workshops were facilitated by NABO, organizations’ members. Nurses, Marjorie Davidson, Ordine Jessamy and Irma Solomon, conducted an informative session on The Metabolic Syndrome. Another workshop led by Janice Bispham and Stephanie Atherley which focused on Barbadian heroes and Bajan Dialect.
The Executive and member organizations expressed their appreciation to Deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley, the keynote speaker at the banquet; Governor Charles W. Turnbull who hosted a reception for the many Barbadians and friends, Minister/Councillor David Bulbulia from the Barbados Embassy, Counsul Generals, Jessica Odle (New York) and Ed Bushell (Miami), Council Ferdinand Gill, Mr. Pearlie Drakes (BIDC), Mr. Tony Best, Barbados Nation Newspaper, and the members of the Convention Committee who ensured that the week was incident free.
This years NABO 2006 Award Recipients were: Mr. Keith Bourne (Barbados), Ms. Stephanie Atherley (Miami, Florida), Ms. Penelope Sandiford (St. Thomas, USVI) and Dr. Dion Phillips (St. Thomas, USVI).
Special thanks was given to their sponsors – Barbados Public Workers’ Cooperative Credit Union, Barbados Industrial Development Corporation, Barbados Tourism Authority, Lakes Development, Consumer Financial Services, Cockspur USA, and Butterfield Bank.
This Convention offered unique experiences for many, who made this a family vacation. Friends and families traveled by ferry and spent a day with members of the newest member of our NABO family, on the Island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. The group also visited St. John and St Croix USVI.
Member organizations of NABO from Hartford, CT, Los Angeles, CA, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Jacksonville, FL, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Georgia, St. Thomas USVI, Baltimore, Maryland, Boston, Massachusetts, & Tortola, BVI were represented in large numbers.
The next N.A.B.O general meeting will be in Atlanta, Georgia on the Martin Luther King weekend, January 12 –15, 2007. Visit the NABO website, http://www.naboinc.org, for updates on the January meeting and on the 2007 Annual Convention in New York City.
