By News Americas Staff Writer
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Dec. 22, 2020: The Caribbean born doctor who administered the first COVID-19 vaccine in the US, and the Caribbean-born nurse who received the first COVID-19 shot on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, both have a message for the incoming Joe Biden/Kamala Harris administration as the count down begins to the Jan. 20, 2021 inauguration.
Guyanese born Dr. Michelle Chester the corporate director Employee Health Services at Northwell Health, who will bring congratulations on behalf of all frontline health care workers at the Caribbean inauguration celebration for Harris on Jan. 17, 2021, said she is confident the administration “will put health care on the forefront.”
“Our community has suffered greatly,” added Dr. Chester. “And I look forward to our community getting the help and support it needs from your administration.”
Jamaican-born nurse, Sandra Lindsay, who became one of the most famous nurses in the United States after receiving the COVID-19 shot in the US, said she knows that under the Biden/Harris administration, “health will be prioritized.”
Lindsay, the director of critical care nursing at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, part of the Northwell Health network, added that there are many more people like her who need the vaccine, particularly in the Caribbean American communities.
Invest Caribbean, the number one global private sector, investment agency of the Caribbean, and the Caribbean American Action Network, (CAAN), which will present the January 17th global live, virtual, event to celebrate Harris, the first Black, Caribbean American Vice President of the United States, shared a preview of Dr. Chester and Nurse Lindsay’s message with News Americas exclusively.
Dr. Chester and Nurse Lindsay will be part of the star-studded Caribbean event that will also feature remarks from Caribbean-born US Congressman Adriano Espaillat of NY; the Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Sir Hilary Beckles; Chair of the CARICOM Consular Corps of New York, Counsel General of Barbados to NY, O. St. E. Mackie Holder; and several Caribbean Diaspora leaders, including ICN CEO and CAAN’s founder and the event’s brainchild, Felicia J. Persaud; President of ICN and CAAN co-founder, Dr. Sheila Newton Moses; Caribbean Immigrant Services founder, Irwine Clare, Sr., O.D.; Global Village Book Publishing LLC’s Aubry Padmore; Coalition for the Preservation of Reggae Music’s Carlyle McKetty and Esther Austin of Esther Austin Global.
HOST/PERFORMANCES
This dynamic, virtual celebration will be hosted by the first Black woman in a James Bond movie, Trina Parks, whose roots extend to Barbados, through her mother, and to Antigua through her grandparents.
It is also set to feature signature performances from some of the Caribbean’s top entertainers, including Jamaican-born dancehall star, Flourgon, of ‘We Run Things’ fame; Barbados’ own Soca King, Edwin Yearwood of ‘All Aboard’ fame; Krosfyah of “Pump Me Up” fame; as well as rising stars, Toni Norville and Kirk Brown; Jamaican gospel singer Joan Meyers, of ‘Can’t Even Walk’ fame; independent Jamaican artiste Janine Jkuhl of ‘Sway’ fame, Owen Dalhouse who recently released ‘Heal the Soul of America;’ as well as Guyanese Menes De Griot and Shanto along with Frankie McIntosh, Maxie Gouevia and Rashid Thorpe.
De Griot, an African spiritual leader, herbalist, and master drummer who has performed at the Million Women March and Tribute to The Ancestors, will open the event with a powerful pouring of libation to the ancestors, followed by a group performance on drums.
HARRIS
The Caribbean Diaspora is expecting Vice President-Elect Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, who campaigned vigorously for the Caribbean American votes with Joe Biden, particularly in Florida, to deliver a message of her own to the Caribbean Diaspora and Caribbean people globally.
The live stream will kick-off at 7 p.m. EST on January 17, 2021 on the Facebook, Twitter and YouTube platforms of One Caribbean Television, (OCTV), as well as on Radio 102.9FM in Antigua & Barbuda. On Inauguration Day, OCTV will air the event on broadcast television across the Caribbean.
CAAN, The Caribbean American Action Network, and an initiative of Invest Caribbean, marks the coming together of several Caribbean Diaspora organizations to country to serve the millions of Caribbean Americans in the US, in the areas of civic engagement, civil rights and immigration, business funding and grants and health. CANN is a call to action for all Caribbean immigrants and Caribbean Americans, and for others to join us and come together in the best interests of the US and the Caribbean region.
Sponsors are: Team Jamaica Bickle, Coalition For The Preservation Of Reggae Music, Global Village Book Publishing, LLC, Esther Austin Global, One Caribbean Television, News Americas News Network, CaribPR Wire, Hard Beat Communications, The Haitian Times and Radio 102.9FM.
For partnership opportunities contact joe at hardbeatcommunications.com.
