Praise for its youth empowerment initiatives ... greater glory of communities in mosaic.
By William Doyle-Marshall
It was a night of praise and congratulations for Westend Sports and Cultural Club as it celebrated its Silver Jubilee (25th anniversary) with its annual fundraising gala last Saturday night.
Ayanna Bolden and Faith Sky Cuffy were winners of the club’s 2012 awards. Aisha DeCouteau was awarded a scholarship and Cherese King and Jared Bolden, two ninth graders received special awards for their outstanding performances in high school. The celebrations was viewed as a symbol of honour for their stellar achievements.
Motivational speaker Jonathan Hood, a past award winner, is now a member of the Hamilton Tiger Cats. He encouraged the awardees to be proud of their achievement because the selection committee recognizes there are kings and queens within them.
Fairness Commissioner Jean Augustine, who could not attend, sent a congratulatory message. She noted that the organization’s dedication for the advancement of “our at risk youth is laudable and worthy of praise”.
Mayor Hazel McCallion acknowledged that Westend was established to provide activities for youth in the community while promoting Caribbean culture. “The annual Scholarship Awards Dinner Dance recognizes the importance of education in providing important tool in the empowerment of young people,” she added.
Bob Delaney MPP also brought congratulatory greetings from Premier Dalton McGuinty and he stressed that the club’s valuable work with youth through scholarships builds good students and good characters.
Keynote speaker Michael Lashley, former Consul-General for Trinidad and Tobago extended to the organization thunderous congratulations on its 26 years of selfless community work, scholarships and bursaries now totaling 86, educational, cultural, youth empowerment projects all for the greater glory of the West Indian and the other communities that make up the Canadian mosaic.
Lashley announced his intention to launch his personal crusade for financial growth within the community. In his new capacity as a business consultant, the former diplomat is now free to undertake a venture he has always cherished. “I dare you to join me now to empower yourself and youth to break out from financial dependence to financial freedom,” the keynote speaker urged.
By investing three hours a week, he advised individuals in the community could create a source of revenue and leave their community in a, better condition than how they found it. This calls for a process of re-education and it also demands that they cease being employees. The retired career diplomat advised that the Internet and personal telecommunication techniques can be used to enhance skills.
In addition, Lashley presented what he described as an energetic call to arms for the empowerment of “our youth through business and finance, music and Caribbean cuisine.”
Members of the Caricom Consular corps who attended the celebration included Jamaica’s Consul-General Seth George Ramocan, Antigua’s Janil Greenaway, Dr. Vidhya Tota-Maharaj, Trinidad & Tobago and Karen Stephenson, Tourism sales representative for Grenada.
“Of all of our assets, Caribbean cuisine is one of those that we have neglected the most as an asset for consolidating our cultural identity, building self-reliance and self-sufficiency; instilling team work in our family lives and for publicizing the significant contributions that we have made to the rest of the world,” Lashley observed.
He told the gathering of celebrants that in his personal, family and professional life, as a foreign student in France and a diplomat in Switzerland, Venezuela and Canada, he made it his extremely pleasant duty to enjoy and to share with classmates, friends and foreign colleagues the delicious joys of the region’s distinctly multicultural cuisine.
Until quite recently, he stressed, he continues to do his part in reversing the North American trend towards buying meals. His family also saves a lot of money by relying mainly on top quality, tasty, home cooked food, Lashley disclosed. “I can therefore insist that socially , culturally and financially, it is in our interest to ensure that our young people draw deeply on our unique Caribbean cuisine for all of these diverse benefits and joys,” he continued.
On the matter of music and particularly music for youth empowerment, Lashley proudly observed “there is no need to advance any argument to support this ideal in our community. All generations are basking in the lusty pleasures of the steelpan, Chutney, Soca, Calypso music. We are dancing to those and other rhythms. Aided and abetted by such local stalwarts as Richard Luces, DJ Badlad, Pan Fantasy Steel Orchestra, Macomere Fifi and our own lovable Parang promoter the venerable Joan Alexander.”
In support of his “ingrained view” of the value of music for cultural identity, self-confidence and personal empowerment, the keynote speaker quoted from his Super Star David Michael Rudder’s definition of Calypso Music: “It is a living vibration, rooted deep within my Caribbean belly”. He also took time to highlight the other Rudder reference related to the power of calypso literature – “lyrics to make a politician cringe, to make a woman belly turn into jelly”
Following the awards presentation segment, patrons partied into the morning with tasteful and nostalgic calypso music provided by Badlad Music (Ian Gould and Carl Harvey) and DJ Desmond from Trinidad’s Wack Radio.
October 15, 2012
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