After months of planning, the Friends of Sion Hill organization was launched in Brooklyn, New York, last Saturday.{{more}}

The form of the launch was a fund- raising barbecue and get-together at Standard Shippers premises on Clarendon Road, Brooklyn, New York.

And, reports are that the occasion was a resounding success.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT, one member at the forefront of last Saturday’s function, Oxley Lowman, said that it outdid their expectations.

“When we planned that function, we thought, yes, we would have a gathering of mainly Sion Hill people, but we never expected such a huge turnout, as there were others from other parts of St Vincent and the Grenadines as well as other Caribbean islands… It was a sort of reunion of friends…We were overwhelmed with the support we got,” Lowman said.

Lowman said that the idea of forming an organization of that nature was hatched some years ago, since there were other Vincentian communities in New York that had jumped ahead with such undertakings.

“Years ago, Sion Hill was the model of community organisations; we were at the top and everyone looked up at us, so we are just trying to rekindle in some way that pride which we once had,” Lowman noted.

Aimed at fostering a greater bond, first among members of the Sion Hill community, the world over, the Friends of Sion Hill organization is not restricted to Vincentians or people from Sion Hill.

“We are not restricting our persons from Sion Hill or Vincentians from St Vincent and the Grenadines, but once you have an interest in what we doing, a love for community development, you are welcome,” Lowman confirmed.

He said that at present, they are working with the motto: “Building a community, one person at a time.”

Buoyed by last Saturday’s successful launch, Lowman, in his note of thanks said: “We would like to thank all those persons who came out and supported our first venture, which has spurred us on to believe we can achieve what we set out to do… A special thanks to Fessie Yorke of Standard Shippers for using his premises and other amenities free of cost.”

Apart from Lowman, others at the core of the launch are Damani “Toma” Thomas, Rommel “Duppy” John, Indra Stewart-Wall, Cassius Lewis, Curt “Manager” King, Garry Thomas, Franklyn “Supadex” Richards, Debbie Thomas-Bowman, Glenroy “Gobell” Phillips, Joanne Legair, Collin “Juice” Bramble, Garfield “Ching” Derrick, Robert Millington, Terry Patrick-Lawrence and Justin Prescott-Skerritt.