MARCH is one of my favourite months, because of all the wonderful events around the world celebrating women. June is not far off and that is another month I look forward to in the U.S., because it is Caribbean-American Heritage Month. From the events hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the Caribbean-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) based in New York to the exciting forums organised by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) in Washington.

Last year I was invited by Mr. Wesley Kirton to be on a panel on Capitol Hill speaking about the Caribbean Creative Sector as a pillar for economic growth. Captain Gerry Gouveia was on a panel presenting with the business sector.

Plans are underway for this year’s observance of National Caribbean American Heritage Month (NCAHM) in June, which will mark the 14th anniversary of this designation. Fourteen years ago, U.S. President George Bush signed the Proclamation designating June as Caribbean- American Heritage month, thereby culminating years of struggle to achieve such designation in recognition of the contribution of Caribbean nationals to the social and economic development of the United States and of the longstanding good relations that exist between the Caribbean region and the United States of America. Celebrations are also held in cities across the United States, where there are significant Caribbean-American communities.

Each year, Caribbean-American Heritage Month is celebrated with, among other activities, Caribbean- American Legislative Week in Washington, DC during which key issues affecting Caribbean-Americans as well as US/Caribbean relations are addressed by Members of Congress and the U.S. Administration, including the White House and U.S. State Department at a series of meetings and briefings. Representatives of the Organisation of American States, the CARICOM Diplomatic Caucus, the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and World Bank also participate in the deliberations.

This year, Caribbean-American Legislative Week will be held June 2 – 8 under the aegis of the Washington-based Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS), which spearheaded the lobby for the designation of June as Caribbean Heritage Month and the annual celebrations which have followed over the years. The patrons of the week’s activities are Members of Congress Hon. Barbara Lee and Hon. Yvette Clarke.
Co-Chairs of the Planning Committee for this year’s Legislative Week activities are former Guyanese diplomat Wesley Kirton and Eric Walcott, ICS Director of Strategic Partnerships. This is the sixth year that Kirton, Chair of the Private Sector Council of the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) and President of the Guyanese-American Chamber of Commerce (GACC), is co-chairing the planning committee.

Among the major achievements of the work of the ICS and its Legislative Week activities has been the advocacy for the introduction and passage of a Bill in the U.S. Congress entitled The U.S. Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act (HR 4939), which was signed into law by U.S. President Barack Obama in December 2016.

ICS President, Dr. Claire Nelson, states that the Act which covers a menu of sectors for collaboration between the U.S. and the Caribbean, including diplomacy, security, trade and investment, energy, education and health, provides for enhanced U.S. support for the development of these sectors in the Caribbean Region and will be an integral part of the deliberations this year, along with the extension of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA).

Additionally, Wesley Kirton notes the need for increased collaborative action on the part of the diaspora, Caribbean governments and private sector to ensure the extension beyond 2020 of the CBERA and the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) which govern trade relations between the US and the Caribbean.

“This year we will be crafting an agenda which speaks to the need for specific action, implementation of a range of initiatives which are necessary to give more positive and impactful meaning to the instruments in place to enhance Caribbean-U.S. relations and the quality of life of the people in the Region. The issue of correspondent banking relations will also feature once again on the agenda,” Kirton said.

Caribbean people have something special to offer the world and I commend these organisations that are representing Caribbean people in the diaspora. Let’s make a contribution to Caribbean/American Heritage month as we celebrate this journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.