NEW YORK, CMC—New York City Mayor Eric Adams honored three Caribbean nationals during a ceremony on Sunday, marking the closure of Caribbean-American Heritage Month.
Adams, the city’s second Black mayor, honored, with proclamations, former Grenada ambassador to the United Nations Eugene Pursoo; the Guyanese founder of the Queens, New York Book Fair and Literary Festival Dr. Dhanpaul Narine; and Jamaican Dr. Melony Samuels, chief executive officer of the New York-based Campaign Against Hunger.
Pursoo, the current president and founder of the newly established Caribbean Diaspora United, Inc., said he accepted the honor “with gratitude” on behalf of many others who “maybe even more deserving, but whose names never get called.”
He dedicated the proclamation to “the many women across the world, some as single mothers, who against severe odds succeed in raising progressive families – the basic building blocks of progressive societies.”
Dr. Narine also said the award was for “the education system in New York City.
“This award is for all the educators in New York City, including the principals, assistant principals, teachers, related service personnel, and assistant teachers.
“We have in our mayor, Mayor Eric Adams, an education mayor. He is committed to education, so please applaud him. He will do wonders for education.
“This is a great honor for me, my family, and everyone else, but also for the power of education. According to Nelson Mandela, you can only change society if you do so through education. Education is the greatest weapon we all have. Let us treasure it,” Dr. Arine said.
Dr. Samuels said she accepted the award “on behalf of the family of the Campaign Against Hunger and 14,000 families that we serve every week.
“We appreciate Mayor Adams and Ingrid for this wonderful award,” she said, referring to Ingrid Lewis-Martin, chief advisor to Mayor Adams, who traces her roots to Barbados and Panama.
Adams said he was “proud to lift the Caribbean Heritage Day here at Gracie Mansion.
“You grace us with your presence. You have done so much for the city, but what you have done has cascaded throughout the country.
“America is what it is because of your contribution, dedication, and commitment. The beauty of it is that it is a country that tells you not to abandon your homeland as you adopt your newfound land. It tells you to embrace i.
“You bring your music, sound, dedication, and academic achievement. You bring your energy. We’re side by side. You can live in the family. You believe in faith. You believe in business. Ou believes in public safety,” Adams told the ceremony.
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