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Star Studded Caribbean Inauguration Party for VP Kamala Harris

Star Studded Caribbean Inauguration Party for VP Kamala Harris
VP Kamla Harris

[NEW YORK]It will be an all-Caribbean inauguration celebration this Sunday, January 17, 2021, from 7 p.m. EST, as top Caribbean regional and Diaspora entertainers and public figures join hands across the waters to celebrate the first black and female, Caribbean-American * US vice-president – Kamala Harris.

Invest Caribbean, the global private sector, investment agency of the Caribbean, has initiated the event with the Caribbean American Action Network, (CAAN), a collective of Caribbean American and Caribbean organizations, have joined together to present the live, virtual, Caribbean inauguration party under the theme: “Celebrating #CaribbeanAmericanKamala.”

Star Studded Entertainment

This dynamic, virtual celebration is set to feature signature performances from some of the Caribbean’s top entertainers, including Jamaican-born dancehall star, Flourgon; Barbados soca king Edwin Yearwood; Jamaican reggae star Nadine Sutherland; Jamaican gospel singer Joan Meyers; Antigua & Barbuda’s Soca diva Claudette Peters of Antigua; Barbados Gospel singer Toni Norville; Bajan soca star Kirk Brown; and 9-year-old rising star, Tykairi Sargeant also of Barbados.

Tykairi Sargeant of Barbados to perform at Star Studded Caribbean Inauguration Party for VP Kamala Harris
9-Year-Old Bajan rising star, Tykairi Sargeant of Barbados, has been added to the all-star line-up.

Others on the bill include independent Jamaican artiste Janine Jkuhl of ‘Sway’ fame; Owen Dalhouse who recently released ‘Heal the Soul of America;’ Guyanese Menes De Griot and Shanto along with St. Vincent and the Grenadines Frankie McIntosh, Maxie Gouveia and Rashid Thorne.

Host Trina Parks

The Caribbean American inauguration party, to be held ahead of the 59th inauguration, will be hosted by the first Black Bond girl, Trina Parks, whose roots extend to Barbados, through her mother, and to Antigua through her grandparents.

The star-studded Caribbean event, the brainchild of ICN CEO and CAAN’s founder Felicia J. Persaud, will be live streamed by One Caribbean Television on its Facebook at facebook.com/onecaribbeantelevision/; YouTube – and Twitter – @onecaribbeantv as well as picked up across the Caribbean including by ABS TV on their digital platform and Demerara Waves and Radio 102.9FM radio.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness is set to address the Star Studded Caribbean Inauguration Party for VP Kamala Harris
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness is set to address the gathering.

Featured Speakers

It will feature remarks from Caribbean-born US Congressman Adriano Espaillat of NY; Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness; the Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Sir Hilary Beckles; and Chair of the CARICOM Consular Corps of New York, Counsel General of Barbados to NY, O. St. E. Mackie Holder.

Holness has called Harris a “daughter of the Caribbean,” while Sir Hilary pointed out that Harris’ “values and roots” are a part of “a long Caribbean journey.”

Dr. Michelle Chester and Nurse Sandra Lindsay a part of Star Studded Caribbean Inauguration Party for VP Kamala Harris
Dr. Michelle Chester and Nurse Sandra Lindsay will bring greetings on behalf of all Caribbean American health care workers.

Caribbean American frontline workers, Guyanese-born Dr. Michelle Chester the corporate director Employee Health Services at Northwell Health, who administered the first COVID-19 vaccine in the US; and Jamaican-born nurse, Sandra Lindsay, who became one of the most famous nurses in the United States after receiving the first COVID-19 shot in the US, will deliver remarks on behalf of health care workers.

Caribbean Diaspora Representation

Representing the Caribbean Diaspora will be some of its strongest advocates including the ICN CEO and Founder who also spent 12 years lobbying and securing a means for Caribbean nationals in the US to count on Census forms; long-time immigration advocate and Caribbean Immigrant Services founder, Irwine Clare, Sr., O.D.; President of ICN and CAAN co-founder, Antigua & Barbuda-born Dr. Sheila Newton Moses; Bajan advocate and Global Village Book Publishing LLC’s Aubry Padmore; the Jamaican-born Coalition for the Preservation of Reggae Music’s Carlyle McKetty and Esther Austin of Esther Austin Global and the UK Diaspora.

In commenting on the event, Persaud, the ICN CEO and CAAN Co-Founder, said: “The event is a labour of love to celebrate a pivotal moment of history where Caribbean American voters also worked hard, campaigned and donated to help make the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris win a reality.”

“We hope, that unlike past administrations, the Caribbean and Caribbean American voters here in the Diaspora, will not continue to be ignored, dismissed and our votes taken for granted as history has shown too often,” she added.

The live stream will kick-off at 7 p.m. EST on January 17, 2021 on the Facebook, Twitter and YouTube platforms of One Caribbean Television, (OCTV), as well as on Radio 102.9FM in Antigua & Barbuda. On Inauguration Day, OCTV will air the event on broadcast television across the Caribbean.

CAAN, The Caribbean American Action Network, and an initiative of Invest Caribbean, marks the coming together of several Caribbean Diaspora organizations to country to serve the millions of Caribbean Americans in the US, in the areas of civic engagement, civil rights and immigration, business funding and grants and health. Invest Caribbean matches funders with funding for specific projects in the Caribbean and globally.

Presenters include: Team Jamaica Bickle, Coalition For The Preservation Of Reggae Music, Global Village Book Publishing, LLC, Esther Austin Global, One Caribbean Television, News Americas News Network, CaribPR Wire and Hard Beat Communications.

*     The First Caribbean-American Elected VP

George Dallas(1792-1854), a US Senator, was the 11th Vice President of the USA. His father Alexander Dallas (1759-1817) was born in Jamaica on June 21, 1759. When Alexander was five years old he moved with his family from Jamaica. He moved back to Jamaica in 1781 and was admitted to the Bar in Jamaica that same year. In 1814 he became the 6th US Secretary of the Treasury. His son George served as the United States Vice President under President James K. Polk from 1845 to 1849.

These two individuals are featured in the 2016 book Caribbean American Heritage: A History of High Achievers by Elliot Bastien and Sandra Bernard-Bastien.

 

South Florida Caribbean News

The SFLCN.com Team provides news and information for the Caribbean-American community in South Florida and beyond.

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