The Indian Heritage Foundation elects new executive

A new executive of The Indian Heritage Foundation was elected at the group’s April 22 Annual General Meeting held at the Tropic Breeze Hotel.{{more}}

The new executive comprises Hansby Lewis – President; Jannis Deane – Vice President; Glenda Joyette – Treasurer; Sunara Chervyakov – Secretary; Earlette Bullock – Assistant Secretary; Kenny Cordice – Public Relations Officer; Raffique Bailey – Cultural Officer and Eustace Maloney – Events Coodinator.

At the top of the agenda is work on the proposed constitution for the group, Lewis said.

This was decided after a proposed constitution was turned down 39 votes to 27, when it was put to the general membership of the Foundation.

According to Lewis, a meeting was held on Monday, April 30 where a decision was taken to look at aspects of the draft over a three-month period before putting it to the general membership.

“But that is one of my main aspects in terms of the constitution, because in the general meeting there was very little time for persons to go through it,” Lewis told SEARCHLIGHT.

Another major project he intends on pursuing during his tenure would be to foster unity among the various communities across the country where people of Indian descent reside.

He explained that while there is a vibrant community in Argyle, areas such as Georgetown, Richland Park, Rose Bank and Park Hill contained small pockets of Indian communities and according to Lewis, not enough is being done to incorporate these people.

“And one of the things I have as my objective is to have some unity among these groups and to have them become members of the Foundation,” he said.

Lewis told SEARCHLIGHT that he intends to establish strong links with those living in the Diaspora and to reach out to groups that may already be functioning in the Diaspora.

He said that he also hopes to extend these links with Indians throughout the region.

In the area of training, Lewis said that he intends to solicit assistance for funding in training members here. He referred specifically to the performing arts and training in science and technology.

And on the subject of some of the immediate plans, Lewis said he saw the need for the Indian Heritage Foundation to get a permanent home, a project for which he intends to look outside for assistance.

Above all else, Lewis said that he will listen to the suggestions made by others and looks forward to working with the new executive.

“I have a good executive alongside me to give advice and to knock our heads together, to come up with the best to take the foundation forward,” he said.