Over the last two weekends, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Consular Corps in New York has been collaborating with Vincentian organizations in Brooklyn in collecting and organizing relief supplies for hurricane-ravaged Bahamas.
According to Garnes Byron, a prominent Vincentian community activist and member of the Brooklyn-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines Diaspora Committee of New York, Inc., the Consular Corps — under the leadership of current chairman Howie Prince, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consul General to New York — has been feverishly working with Vincentians in the relief initiative.
Byron told Caribbean Life on Monday that the consuls general from Guyana, Barbara Atherly; Belize, Herman Longworth; and the Bahamas, Larry Cartwright also have been rolling up their sleeves in the relief drive at the Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center, 921 Hegeman Ave., Brooklyn.
Bryon said all parties have been very engaged in the effort on Sept. 14, 15, 21 and 22 at the East New York staging area.
“There, we saw members from different Vincentian organizations in the New York area coming forward to help organize and pack the items collected from individuals and various organizations, throughout the borough, including the Caribbean American Center of New York, located in Sunset Park (Brooklyn),” he said.
Byron said the collection of relief supplies continues on Oct. 5 and 6 at the St. Lucia House, 438 East 49th St., Brooklyn.
“Then, we return to Friends of Crown Heights for the final pickup on Oct. 19 and 20, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm,” he said.
“All items collected will be handed over to the CARICOM Consular Corps, who will organize to have them delivered to the Bahamas,” Bryon added.
