Saint Lucia Consulate in New York unveils Independence 35 Calendar of Activities for New York and Connecticut

In commemoration of the 35th anniversary of Saint Lucia’s independence, the Consulate General of Saint Lucia in New York has finalized an exciting and wide-ranging calendar of activities.  To mark this important milestone, the Independence 35 events will focus on providing memorable long-lasting benefits to Saint Lucians, the Diaspora, and the international community. To that end, the Consulate General has partnered with the New York-based Saint Lucia House Foundation and a host of other community organizations in establishing and executing the Independence 35 program of activities.

This year’s celebrations will open with the Independence 35 Gospel Fest, which is slated for February 8, 2014 at the Advent Fellowship Church of Brooklyn, located at 1666 Bergen Street, Brooklyn. This event will feature local gospel entertainers, church choirs, drummers and praise dancers, and many other inspirational performers.

On February 13, 2014 at 6:30PM, the inaugural Saint Lucia Independence Lecture will take place at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), located at 199 Chambers Street, New York. This intriguing lecture will address numerous topics regarding the Diaspora and ongoing development of Saint Lucia.

On February 16, 2014 at 3:00PM, the New York Premiere of the “Poetry is an Island: Derek Walcott” documentary film will take place at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, located at 1 E 42nd Street, New York.  Directed by Ida Does, this film celebrates the life of the Hon. Derek Alton Walcott, Nobel Laureate.  Born in 1930, Walcott is the renowned Saint Lucian poet, playwright, and visual artist who, in 1992, became the first Caribbean writer of color to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.

On February 21, 2014 at 10:00AM, a special Flag-Raising Ceremony will take place at Brooklyn’s municipal office building, located at 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn. This event will feature performances by Saint Lucian artists and cultural groups, as well as remarks by H.E. Ms. Menissa Rambally, Saint Lucia’s ambassador to the United Nations, the Hon. Julian Dubois, Saint Lucia’s Consul General in New York, the Hon. Eric Adams, Brooklyn’s new Borough president, and other elected officials and dignitaries.

On February 22, 2014, the actual day of Saint Lucia’s independence, the 35th Anniversary Church Service will be held at Saint Augustine’s Episcopal Church, located at 4301 Avenue D, Brooklyn.  This interfaith service promises to be a truly different experience designed to include all individuals in their desire to celebrate our beautiful island in reverence to God.

Slated for February 24-28, 2014, a weeklong highlight of our Independence 35 celebrations will be “The Exhibition: Saint Lucian Art Collection,” which celebrates Saint Lucia and the Diaspora through a variety of artistic mediums. To the wonder of us all, this event will feature emerging and established Saint Lucian artists who are eager to exhibit their most compelling works to the public. Renowned Saint Lucian artists Dunstan St. Omer and Nancy Cole-Auguste are among the artists whose works will appear in the exhibition.  Daily hours will be from 10:00AM to 4:30PM at the Saint Lucia Consulate, located at 800 Second Avenue, 5th Floor, New York. The opening reception will be on February 24, 2014 at 6:00PM, and the closing ceremony, which will feature a “Night of Poetry,” will be held on February 27 at 6:00PM.

On March 2, 2014, the Independence 35 Gala will be held at El Caribe, located at 5945 Strickland Avenue, Mill Basin, Brooklyn. Highlighted by the theme, “In Unity and Dedication: for the Good of the Nation,” this extravagant event promises to offer family-oriented entertainment, featuring a host of Saint Lucian entertainers. And under the distinguished patronage of H.E. Ms. Menissa Rambally and the Hon. Julian Du Bois, this event will prove to be both unforgettable and inspirational.

In neighboring Connecticut, a number of celebrations and events have also been scheduled. On February 15, 2014, the inaugural Independence Lecture will be held at the Hartford Public Library, located at 500 Main Street, Hartford. On February 16, 2014 at 11:00AM, the Independence Church Service will be held at the Saint Justin Church, located at 230 Blue Hills Avenue, Hartford. On February 21, 2014 at 7:00PM, a special games night will be held at the Barbados American Society, located at 2976 Main Street, Hartford. On February 22, 2014 at 9:00AM, a Flag-Raising Ceremony will take place at the State Capitol Building, located at 210 Capitol Avenue, Hartford. Finally, later that same day, at 7:00PM, the celebrations culminate with the Independence 35 Gala to be held at the Holiday Inn, located at 100 East River Drive, East Hartford.

The Consulate General of Saint Lucia invites all Saint Lucians and friends to take part in the Independence 35 celebrations. For more information, please contact the office of the Consulate General of Saint Lucia in New York via phone at (212) 697-9360 or via e-mail at sluconsulateny@govt.lc.