On Friday, June 2, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz kicked off America’s first-ever National Caribbean-American Heritage Month in Brooklyn, the Caribbean capital of New York City and all of America. The event was a celebration of the national resolution passed unanimously by both houses of Congress in February, 2006 designating June as a month to recognize and reflect on the contributions of Caribbean-Americans.

“By declaring every June National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, our government has recognized what Brooklynites have known for decades,” said Borough President Markowitz. “That our Caribbean population is a model for how to build strong, cohesive, and vibrant immigrant communities, and for building families and starting businesses based on that foundation.”

Borough President Markowitz welcomed a host of elected officials of Caribbean descent and delegates representing many Caribbean nations to Borough Hall Plaza to officially kick-off the inaugural heritage month. Dr. Claire Nelson, Founder and President of the Institute for Caribbean Studies was instrumental in drafting the resolution which was sponsored by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) in the House of Representatives and in the Senate by New York Senator Charles Schumer.

Officials in attendance for this historic day included State Senator Carl Andrews, Assembly Member Nick Perry, Assembly Member Helene Weinstein, Assembly Member Karim Camara, New York City Council Member Kendall Stewart, Council Member Yvette Clarke, Council Member David Yassky, Dr. Harold Robertson, Consul General Trinidad & Tobago, Cosmos Cozier, Consul General St. Vincent & The Grenadines, and Dr. Roy Hastick, President/CEO, Caribbean-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry