Tourism takes a public stage

Next week’s Caribbean Week New York is stuffed with private, VIP events for government officials and industry professionals, but the annual happening for tourism — one of the region’s biggest moneymakers — features special, open-to-the-public happenings for those who love the region and the many people in the New York area who call the place home.

Organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization, based in Barbados, Caribbean Week New York’s “Consumer Events” start next Sunday, with the “Revival for the Caribbean” initiative of speakers and cultural presentations at Meredith Global Corp., 225 Liberty St., in the Financial District.

Expert cooks in the “Celebrity Chef Program” will be arousing taste buds and fueling the culinary imaginations of patron in demonstrations at Bloomingdale’s on 59th St. from June 4 through 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The chef program moves to Williams Sonoma, Columbus Circle, on June 9 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Caribbean Diaspora Forum — examining tourism’s place among the region’s people, their heritage and culture — takes place June 4 at the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel, 481 Eighth Ave. in Manhattan, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The free Caribbean Students Colloquium, featuring “rising stars in Caribbean tourism,” comes to the Wyndham New Yorker on June 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The “Rum & Rhythm Benefit and Auction” on June 8 at the Capitale, 130 Bowery, Manhattan, benefits the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Scholarship Foundation and wraps up the week’s consumer events.The gala event stars chefs Wenford Patrick Simpson (Jamaica), Christopher Terry (Antigua and Barbuda), Jason Howard (Barbados), Melvin Myers (Antigua and Barbuda), Anthony Smith (Trinidad and Tobago)— and an array of fine rums from throughout the Caribbean.

For a full listing of events, information and registration for consumer events, visit www.caribbeanweek.com, www.onecaribbean.org/events-calendar/cwny-2018/ or call (212) 635-9530.

First female PM in Barbados

Last week’s general election in Barbados resulted in the nation’s first female prime minister — Mia Amor Mottley of the Labor Party, according to the Barbados Today and New Americas Now websites.

Bikini fashion show tryouts

“Show us what you got,” say organizers of the Bikini Under the Bridge Fashion Show, who are holding a model call on Saturday in Brooklyn, at Milk River, 960 Atlantic Ave., from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For information and requiremnents, send email to jrgbikini@gmail.com.

The show will be held on July 8, with a portion of the proceeds from this event will go to the Health and Educational Relief Organization for Cancer.

Anguilla association birthday

Happy birthday to the Anguilla Progressive Association of New York, which will celebrate the 51st anniversary of its founding Saturday at the organization’s annual Dinner Dance Awards Gala, held at Antun’s, 96-43 Springfield Blvd., Queens Village, at 8 p.m.

Honorees include Dr. Victor Gibbs, St. Martin; Rhona Richardson-Roydon; Franklin Woods, and Clinton Benjamin. The Vision Band will perform. To get tickets, call (516) 220-1856 or (72/318) 882-8172.

Economic power brunch

For the New York-based Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the June commemoration of Caribbean American Heritage Month begins with an economic power development power brunch, at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St., at 10 a.m. To get information or RSVP: For the brunch, call (718) 834-4544 or send email to info@caccitradecenter.com. Learn more about the chamber at www.caribbeantradecenter.com.