St. Lucia Prime Minister and Veteran Musical Maestro to celebrate independence in New York

NEW YORK – St. Lucians across the Tri-State area around New York are eagerly awaiting both the arrival of Prime Minister Stephenson King as well as local musical genius Ronald “Boo” Hinkson, who along with friends and family of the Diaspora, will celebrate the island’s 30th anniversary of Independence this Saturday, March 14.

Prime Minister King will address gala patrons at Brooklyn, New York’s Grand Prospect Hall (263 Prospect Avenue) as St. Lucians gather with their Caribbean and American friends under the theme “A Journey to be proud of, A future to look forward to” at the popular banquet facility.

“We are excited about this weekend’s gala dinner and would like to encourage all St. Lucians and friends of St. Lucia to witness history as our island nation celebrates three decades of self-rule in grand style,” said Ambassador Dr. Donatus St. Aimee, St. Lucia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He added the Prime Minister will have a special message to share with St. Lucians in the United States concerning the island’s development agenda, while Ronald “Boo” Hinkson, a celebrated St. Lucian jazz guitarist, will showcase the island’s “creative cultural genius” and give a sneak-preview of what to expect at the upcoming St. Lucia Jazz festival in May.

Last month, St. Lucians in the New York Tri-State area gathered in impressive numbers to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Independence with cultural presentations, poetry readings, a flag raising ceremony at Brooklyn’s Borough Hall, a church service, and a lively Ambassador’s reception.

Brooklyn’s Borough President Marty Markowitz (center) congratulates the Government and People of St. Lucia for 30 years of Independence at a recent flag raising ceremony at Brooklyn Borough Hall. In the photograph is St. Lucia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Dr. Donatus St. Aimee and St. Lucian Ann Marie Adamson, Policy Analyst, in the Office of Brooklyn’s Borough President.
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz commented: “What a huge milestone 30 years of nation building represents. St. Lucia is truly the jewel of the Caribbean, a land of beautiful beaches and rolling blue skies, but also the intellectual nerve center of the Caribbean … with more Nobel Laureates per capita than anywhere in the world.”

Tickets for the gala are available at the St. Lucia Consulate and from the leadership of various St. Lucian organisations.

St. Lucia gained its Independence from Great Britain on February 22, 1979.

Members of the St. Lucian community enjoyed a recent Poetry Night held at St. Lucia’s Consulate and Mission to the United Nations. Here, they cheer New York-based St. Lucian singer Michel Aubertin who delivered a stirring classical rendition.