New York City Mayor Eric Adams Honors Three Caribbean Nationals

NEW YORK, New York – New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, has honored three Caribbean nationals during a ceremony on Sunday marking the closure of Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

Former Grenada United Nations ambassador Eugene Pursoo lifts proclamation while giving acceptance speech (CMC Photo).Adams, the city’s second Black mayor honoured, 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 and Jamaican Dr. Melony Samuels, chief executive officer of the New York-based Campaign Against Hunger.

Pursoo, also the current president and founder of the newly-established Caribbean Diaspora United, Inc., said he accepted the honour “with gratitude”  on behalf of many others who “may be 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.

“All the educators in New York City, this is for you. The principals, the assistant principals, the teachers, related service personnel, assistant teachers, this award is for you.

“We have in our mayor, Mayor Eric Adams, an education mayor, He is committed to education, so give him a big round of applause, please. He will do wonders for education.

“This is a great honor for me personally and my family and everyone else, but also for the power of education. You can only change a society, according to Nelson Mandela, if you do so through education. Education is the greatest weapon we all have. Let us treasure it,” Dr. Narine 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 up the Caribbean Heritage Day here at Gracie Mansion.

“You grace us with your presence. You have done so much, not only for the city, but what you have done has cascaded throughout the entire country.

“America is what it is because of your contribution, your dedication and your commitment.  The beauty of it all, this is a country that tells you don’t abandon your homeland as you adopt your newfound land. It tells you to embrace it.

“You bring your music, your sound, your dedication, your academic achievement. You bring your energy. We’re side by side. You believe in family. You believe in faith. You believe in business. You believe in public safety,” Adams told the ceremony.