T&T Alliance honors five at Annual Award Gala
Caribbean Life, DECEMBER 6-12, 2019 3
By Nelson A. King
The Trinidad and Tobago Alliance
(North America), Inc. on Sunday, Nov.
24 honored five outstanding individuals
during its 43rd Annual Scholarship
Awards Luncheon at El Caribe Country
Club on Strickland Avenue in Brooklyn.
The Alliance, an amalgamation of 10
Trinidad and Tobago groups in the New
York Diaspora, presented the Lifetime
Achievement Award posthumously to
Rudolph L. Legendre; the Community
Service Award to Nadine M. Finigan-
Carr, Ph. D; Healthcare Award to Registered
Nurse Thecla Williams and Dr.
Rhonda Cambridge-Phillip; and the
Humanitarian Award to Dr. Keleene V.
Tuitt.
“This is when we come together and
pay tribute to our own,” said Alliance
president Dr. Carol Wilson-Smith in her
opening remarks at the gala event. “We
recognize our heroes and sheroes.
“The Trinidad and Tobago Alliance
was formed 49 years ago,” he added.
“Next year, we’ll be having bigger, better,
bolder and much more fun.”
Legendre’s grand-daughter, Mariama,
accepted the award on behalf of
her late grand-father, who transitioned
on Sept. 11.
The son of Norah and Charlie Legendre,
Legendre was born on Sept.
29, 1929, in Tunapuna, Trinidad and
Tobago.
He received his early education and
began his career, as a furniture maker,
also in Tunapuna, before enlisting as a
firefighter in the Trinidad and Tobago
Fire Services.
In 1969, Legendre and his wife, the
former Wilma Archer, relocated to
Brooklyn in search of a better life for
their family.
He resorted to his first career, carpentry,
then worked as a private taxi
driver until his retirement.
Legendre was described as “a great
debater and organizer,” who was “always
willing to offer advice and render his
services for the betterment of the
organizations he served, including the
charitable event he instituted and oversaw
in Tunapuna,” according to his
biography.
At the time of his death, Legendre
was an active member of Trinidad and
Tobago Ex-Firemen and Associates and
second vice president of Trinidad and
Tobago Alliance (NA), Inc.
He was also an active member of
Brooklyn Fight Back Association and
Hawks International, once leading
organizations in the community. He
enjoyed playing the bass instrument.
“Rudolph Legendre has left a heartfelt
legacy for his children, grandchildren
and hosts of other relatives and
friends,” his biography states. “He will
be sorely missed.”
Dr. Finigan-Carr is a prevention
research scientist focused on the application
of behavioral and social science
perspectives to research on contemporary
health problems, especially those
that disproportionately affect people of
color.
She is a nationally-recognized expert
on human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Currently, Dr. Finigan-Carr is a
Research Associate Professor and the
Assistant Director of the Ruth Young
Center for Families and Children at
the University of Maryland’s School of
Social Work, where she leads the Prevention
of Adolescent Risk initiative.
“This is a treat,” said Dr. Finigan-
Carr in receiving the award. “It’s an
honor to get this award from my own
people.”
Registered Nurse Williams, who was
born in Belmont, Port-of-Spain, the
Trinidad and Tobago capital, is the vice
president of the Trinidad and Tobago
Nurses Association of America, Inc.
Williams also served as assistant
secretary, public relations officer and
chairperson of the nursing association’s
Education Committee.
She began working as a Home Care
Coordinator of the Visiting Nurses
Services of New York, based at Kings
County Hospital, while obtaining her
Bachelor of Nursing at St. Francis College
in Brooklyn.
“Ms. Williams’s trajectory as a nurse
is not about accolades or titles but for
the love of patient care and passing on
knowledge,” her biography says.
“While working at hospitals, she has
always been a preceptor, even at Woodhull
Hospital, where she is currently
working,” it adds.
After receiving the award, Williams
said she was heading to John F. Kennedy
International Airport to travel to Trinidad
and Tobago for the funeral service
Wednesday of her mother.
“I’m overwhelmed right now with
gratitude,” she said, holding back tears.
“I just want to thank everybody who
came out to support me – my three
children.
“My mother, she’s looking down and
is very proud of me,” she added. “I’m
very proud of nursing. I will be nursing
until I die.”
Dr. Tuitt is a board-certified family
medicine physician, Amazon bestselling
author of “Be Irie: A Caribbean
Handbook to Develop Healthy Habits”,
and creator of “Irie Vitamins,” a natural
nutritional supplement line.
She has a a bachelor’s degree in
Biological Sciences from Carnegie Mellon
University, a Master of Biomedical
Sciences and Doctor of Osteopathic
Medicine degree from the Philadelphia
College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Tuitt completed her family medicine
residency at Inspira Medical Center
in New Jersey.
She has been in practice for over
eight years and has taught medical
students over the years as an Associate
Clinical Professor at the Edward Via
College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Registered Nurse Tecla Williams receives bouquet of fl owers after receiving
award from Sherisse Rollock-Warner, president of T&T Nurses.
Photo by Nelson A. King
Dr. Rhonda Cambridge-Phillip (right) receives award from Althea I. Roach,
secretary of T&T Alliance. Photo by Nelson A. King
Dr. Kelenne V. Tuitt (right) receives
award from her mother, Lynette
Tuitt. Photo by Nelson A. King