By Nelson A. King
When the Brooklyn-based
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Diaspora Committee of New
York, Inc. held its Heritage
Awards and Gala Ceremony on
Nov. 2, the St. Vincent and the
Grenadines Ex-Teachers’ Association
of New York was among
two who received the Humanitarian
Award.
The other recipient was the
Brooklyn-based youth leader,
Kyra-Lee Harry, a rising junior
at New York University’s Tandon
School of Engineering.
“We’re forever grateful for
your recognition,” said Jackson
Farrell, president of the Brooklyn
based St. Vincent and the
Grenadines Ex-Teachers’ Association
of New York, in receiving
the award from the Diaspora
Committee at the Friends
of Crown Heights Educational
Center in Brooklyn.
“This year, starting Dec. 1,
we celebrate 37 years,” added
Farrell. “We pride ourselves in
putting our country first.”
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Ex-Teachers’ Association
of New York is the brainchild of
its founders — Dennis Bernard,
Dr. Herman Ambris, Emily
Evans, Vernalyn Blencowe and
Yvonne Francis-Gibson (both
deceased), Alf Phillips, Edward
Conliffe, Dr. Robert Hickson
and Farrell.
From its inception in 1982,
the group said its “unwavering
goal has been to work assiduously
to construct an organization
that serves the educational
and social needs of the Vincentian
community.
“This has not been easy by
any means,” it said in its biography.
“We have weathered many
a storm and surmounted innumerable
obstacles.
“But under the illustrious
leadership and vision of our
first president, Mr. Dennis Bernard,
his successors Dr. Jerrol
Thompson, Dr. Herman
Ambris, and Mr. Jackson Farrell,
our current president, and
the loyalty and commitment of
our membership, we are proud
to state that we have not only
Caribbean L 16 ife, NOVEMBER 22-28, 2019 B
maintained this thrust but
expanded it to include the wider
Caribbean Diaspora.”
In keeping with its motto,
“Together For Growth, to
Learn, to Teach, and to Help,”
the ex-teachers’ group said it
has compiled an “impressive
list of accomplishments.”
Among them was a Teach-In
educational program at Brooklyn’s
Medgar Evers College,
which was a collaborative effort
with the late Dr. George Irish,
a professor at the said college,
and the hosting of an annual
educational forum in the US.
In addition, the St. Vincent
and the Grenadines Ex-Teachers’
Association of New York
said it has participated in “global
outreach” to St. Vincent
and the Grenadines, namely the
installation of a public address
system in the Gomea Methodist
School; sponsorship of children
at the School for Special
Needs; donations of educational
supplies to students
and schools in St. Vincent and
the Grenadines; scholarships to
From left, Philmore Sprott, Jackson Farrell, president of the
Brooklyn-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ex-Teachers’
Association of New York and Sherill-Ann Haywood.
Photo by Nelson A. King
well-deserved students; financial
help to those studying in
the US; as well as contributed
monetary and non-perishable
gifts to countries and religious
institutions affected by natural
disasters.
Like all voluntary organizations,
the St. Vincent and the
Grenadines Ex-Teachers’ Association
of New York said it has
suffered membership fluctuations
attributable to retirement
and/or repatriation, relocation
and death.
“We are encouraging fellow
Vincentians who currently
teach in the USA or have taught
in SVG (St. Vincent and the
Grenadines) to help us continue
this very important work,” the
group urged.
Persons desirous of becoming
members may obtain application
forms by emailing svgexteachers@
gmail.com.
SVG Ex-Teachers’ Assoc. of NY
receives Humanitarian Award
EYE SPECIALISTS
Reich Center for Eye Care
Raymond Reich MD., Isaac Reich, MD.
LASIK - Starting at $1,50000 per eye
THE SKILLS YOU NEED
THE WISE JUDGMENT YOU WANT
THE NAME YOU TRUST
COMPREHENSIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY
MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT OF ALL EYE DISORDERS
link
link
/gmail.com