The West Indian-American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA) announced plans today to launch its carnival season 2011 on June 27, with an elegant Reception and Award Ceremony titled "The Best of the Caribbean," at the Tropical Paradise Grand Ballroom, 1367 Utica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203.
The ceremony, which signals the commencement of the festive carnival season in New York City, coincides with Caribbean Heritage Month celebrations, and will be highlighted by performances from numerous West Indian-American artists. Many leading West Indians and West Indian-Americans will be honored for distinguished service; outstanding contributions to the development of the West Indian-American community; the perseveration of its diverse culture; and empowerment of its peoples.
The 2011 honorees and their countries of origin are: Dominica: Honorable Ian Douglas, Minister of Tourism & Legal Affairs; Raymond Lawrence, Chief Director of Cultural Affairs. Grenada: Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus, dentist and former Grenada Ambassador to the UN. Haiti: Honorable Rosamonde Pierre-Louis, Manhattan Deputy Borough President; Lisa Drouillard, Miss Teen New York 2011. Belize & Trinidad: Dave & Joann Gayle, owners, Tropical Paradise Ballroom & Restaurant. Jamaica: Honorable Yvonne Graham, Brooklyn Deputy Borough President. St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Kenton Kirby, Editor-In-Chief, Caribbean Life newspaper.
(WIADCA) is a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization that was established in 1967 to develop, teach and promote Caribbean arts and culture in the New York Metropolitan Area, and the organizer, convener and trademarked owner of the rights of the West Indian-American Day Carnival in New York City.
West Indian Carnival celebrations first came to Harlem, New York, in the 1930's, and were moved to Brooklyn in the 1960's. Today, it has mushroomed into the largest festival and parade in the United States and North America. In 2001, approximately 4 million people from around the United States and the world participated. The parade has also burgeoned into a major tourist attraction and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for the City of New York.
The Parade, which takes place on Brooklyn's historic Eastern Parkway, entails large bands and decorative floats depicting various aspects of the West Indian culture, accompanied by thousands of masqueraders bedecked in extravagant, colorful costumes-gyrating, dancing and flouncing to loud, tantalizing rhythms of the latest Soca music from the Caribbean.
The celebration and festivities, which are a week long, are traditionally kicked off with a Caribbean-styled reception hosted by the Mayor of New York City at the Mayor's official residence, Gracie Mansion, where outstanding corporate and business leaders are recognized.
WIADCA, one of the oldest Caribbean-American organizations in the US, also has a "College Scholarship Fund." Contributions from business entities like the New York Daily News and other loyal sponsors have over the years enabled the organization to expand the Fund to provide scholarships to an increasing number of college students.
