Visiting and resident Caribbean citizens joined in one accord this past Sunday afternoon at a special interfaith celebration to mark the opening of “Caribbean Week in New York” from May 29 to June 5. The special interfaith celebration was held at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 209 East 16th Street in Manhattan.
Regional tourism ministers and directors, along with their aides, joined local Caribbean-Americans from all walks of life at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan to give God thanks for life and to uplift the Caribbean in prayer at a worship service with a difference. “In everything, we give thanks and praise, and that’s what Sunday will be about – giving thanks as we start the week,” said Hugh Riley, the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Director of Marketing for the Americas, who encouraged all and sundry in New York and the region to join in the celebration.
Congregants, included New York State and City officials and members of the diplomatic corps, witnessed inspiring performances from gifted Caribbean musicians as well as the presentation of the flags of the Caribbean, a tradition at this annual family affair.
Riley, a national of Barbados and the head of the Caribbean Week planning committee, promised that the interfaith celebration will feature gifted performances from Trinidadian gospel sensation Gerard Placide, a three time winner of the McDonalds Gospel Festival; soloist Patricia Nicholas of Antigua and Barbuda; jazz virtuoso Arturo Tappin of Barbados; spirit-filled dancer Laveda Williams of St. Kitts & Nevis; and The Chapman Brothers of Caribbean descent on “ivory and steel.” The main message of inspiration will be delivered by the Rt. Rev. E. Don Taylor, the Jamaica-born Vicar Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.
The offering will benefit the CTO Foundation, which provides scholarships to Caribbean students pursuing studies in tourism-related disciplines.
The interfaith celebration opens an exciting week of activities, which showcase culture and cuisine at special events across the city while providing opportunities for camaraderie and conversation at workshops and town hall meetings with tourism ministers and Caribbean-American residents.
Caribbean Week in New York, a project of the CTO with support from the public and private sector, is a celebration of the sights, sounds, colors, cultural delights and vibrancy of the Caribbean.
