NEW YORK – The New York Mets with the support of the Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) honored four Caribbean community leaders at the second annual Caribbean Night at Shea Stadium held earlier this week at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York. The award ceremony took place before the METS vs Atlanta Braves game.
Honorees included Irwine G. Clare, Sr., Managing Director, Caribbean Immigrant Services, Inc.; Irie Jamboree – North America’s premier reggae festival (Bobby Clarke, Steven Williams, Louis Grant, Michael Williams); Herman Hall – Publisher, Everybody’s Caribbean American Magazine and Ninaj Raoul, cofounder of the Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, (HWHR).
Louis Grant, VP of Irie Jam Media, who was on hand to accept his award said “We are pleased and honored to have been considered to serve as an appropriate representative on behalf of Caribbean nationals and to be recognized by the METS organization during Caribbean Night at Shea. We applaud the efforts of QEDC to integrate the people of the Caribbean into activities that contribute significantly to the economic development of the borough of Queens.
Irie Jam/Irie Jamboree remains committed to partnerships that will encourage and foster these interactions and will continue to do its part to ensure that the importance of the role of the people of the Caribbean in these relationships is recognized and supported” he said.
A beaming Irwine Clare said, “Thanks to the Queens Borough President’s office and the Mets for identifying the presence of the Caribbean Community and its importance in this great mosaic of a City NYC. As a community, we must capitalize on this and seek to use this relationship and recognition as leverage for a more fundamental and economically viable opportunity.”
A pre-game performance by popular Jamaican musical ambassador Richie Stephens, garnered rapturous applauds from the large crowd that attended the game. Higher Levin Steel Band Orchestra and New York rising star Elvis D also had their moments in the spotlight, both delivered captivating performances that went over well with patrons.
Caribbean Night at Shea served to kickoff a yearlong initiative by Queens Borough President Helen M. Marshal and the Queens Economic Development Corporation to create a concentrated effort to connect the Caribbean Business Community (CBC) in Queens with resources that will enhance, strengthen and grow their business. This effort looks to provide assistance to both large and small businesses, as well as endeavor to create partnerships with business organizations and groups that assist businesses throughout the borough.
Award recipients at the ‘Caribbean Night At Shea’ which took place at Shea Stadium (L-R) Roy Walters who accepted on behalf of Bobby Clarke – Irie Jamboree; Michael Williams, Irie Jamboree; Louis Grant, Irie Jamboree; Steven Williams, Irie Jamboree; Michelle Stoddart, QEDC; Melva Miller, Office of the Borough President of Queens; Herman Hall, Everybody Magazine; Irwine Clare, Caribbean Immigrant Services and Ninaj Raoul, HWHR
Photo by: Jacqueline ‘snipper’ Bennett
