W. Indies gala all about kids
Yes, there are distinguished honorees, prominent actors, famous entertainers and politicians, but the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies Legacy Awards Gala is all about the students.
Proceeds from the black-tie affair – which will be held on Feb. 24 at The Pierre hotel, 2 E 61st St. (between Fifth and Madison Aves.) – provide scholarships for deserving students.
This year’s honorees include AFUWI Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Dr. Harold Freeman(photo), CEO, president and founder of the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute, professor emeritus of surgery at Columbia University, and author of the pioneering report “Cancer in the Economically Disadvantaged.” Award-winning singer/entertainer Machel Montano will receive the foundation’s Bob Marley Award.
Other honorees are healthcare executive Daphne Jones, chief information officer, GE Healthcare Global Services (Caribbean Luminary Award); Larry Miller, president, Jordan Brand, a division of Nike Inc. (Trailblazer Award); Phillip Gore and Christine Gore, directors of the Phillip & Christine Gore Family Foundation (Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Award) and Tirrell Whittley, CEO and principal of Liquid Soul (Corporate Award).
Gala tickets start at $500 and reservations should be made by Feb. 10. For tickets and information, call (212) 759-9345 and visit the foundation’s website www.afuwi.org.
Trini carnival’s climax
Dubbed the greatest show on earth, Trinidad and Tobago Carnival – the annu- al month-long celebration of Caribbean costume creativity, music and culture – is reaching its crescendo. Countdown is on for the climax of the 2016 event.
The Dimanche Gras National Calypso Monarch final will be held next Sunday. J'Ouvert takes place in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 8; and the big Parade of Bands is on Feb. 8 and 9.
The website of the National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, the governmental agency overseeing the annual event, has information on mas, pan and calypso competitions and the history of the carnival. For information, visit www.ncctt.org/new.
Happy birthday, St. Lucia
A flag-raising ceremony, gospel festival, a cultural exposition and the Young Saint Lucian Professionals Mixer are among the planned New York area events marking the 37th anniversary of St. Lucia independence next month. The island nation gained independence from the United Kingdom on Feb. 22, 1979.
The Consulate General of Saint Lucia, in partnership with the New York-based Saint Lucia House Foundation, announced the event’s schedule which begins Saturday with the Independence Gospel Fest.
The festival at the Mt. Zion Church of God, 203 E. 37th St. (between Linden Blvd and Church Ave.), in Brooklyn, stars Emrand Henry, Shem Meluce, PJ Stanislas, Ashley Norbert, Billy Poyotte, Vessels of Honor, Saint Lucia’s Children of Culture and others. Menissa Rambally, St. Lucia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, is scheduled to address the gathering, which begins at 7 p.m. For information, call the consulate at (212) 697-9360 or send an email to sluconsu
lateny@govt.lc.