The St Vincent and the Grenadines Nurses Association of New York (SVGNANY), celebrated its 24th anniversary with an awards ceremony and luncheon last Sunday at the grand El Caribe Country Club, on Strickland Avenue in Brooklyn, New York.{{more}}

And, as part of the ceremony, which also included a cocktail party, the association announced David Robinson, who will pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, as its scholarship awardee.

Robinson, who hails from Peruvian Vale on mainland St Vincent, will be attending the Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn.

In expressing his gratitude for the scholarship, Robinson said it is an opportunity for him “to explore a whole new frontier.”

Robinson, who started off as a computer lab technician, confessed that he found nursing motivating, but challenging, as he deviates from his familiar roles.

He noted that his new career path is a way of giving back to his community, despite the taboo of nursing being a female field, hence the reason for his entry into the profession at this late stage.

Robinson, the son of Kenneth and Evelyn Robinson, who is already into his second semester at the Medgar Evers, has already notched up one leadership post, as he is the president of the Dr Hilda Richards Nursing Club at the college.

Meanwhile, president of the SVGNANY Celia Bramble, in her welcome remarks, commented: “Twenty-four years may seem like a long time, but there are other organizations who are celebrating a lot longer.”

Bramble explained that while they provide health service support both in the USA diaspora and in St Vincent and the Grenadines, they are expanding into other areas and have continued to reach out to other groups and organizations.

She thanked persons for their continued support of her during her five years tenure as president, and announced that she will not be reassuming that position, but will be taking on another roll.

Also adding her voice to the ceremony, was president of COSAGO Lavern McDowald-Thompson. The COSAGO head, in stressing the importance of community based organisations such as the nurses’ set-up in New York, remarked: “I can assure you that many people are reaching out to us because there are many needs.”

Mc Dowald-Thompson touched on one of the most recent calls for help with the burial expenses of the six family members who lost their lives in that tragic fire in New Jersey on Father’s Day, in which Vincentians also perished.

She disclosed that burial expenses were put at approximately $20,000 and declared: “We must reach out to help.”

Likewise, Consul General of St Vincent and the Grenadines in New York Selmon Walters reiterated the need to assist the fire victims.

Walters recalled the sadness he felt during the funeral service, seeing the four coffins and two urns.

The ceremony was also addressed by Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations (UN) Ambassador Rhonda King, who spoke on the economic viability of small island states and reparation.