The Brooklyn-based Vincentian umbrella group Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines USA, Inc. (COSAGO), along with the Manhattan-based Consulate Basic of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the US, on Sunday honored two excellent group employees in the course of the 44th Gala Independence Anniversary Ball of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at Russo’s on the Bay within the Howard Seaside part of Queens.
Retired Registered Nurse and Colonel within the US Military Reserve Celia Bramble and US Military veteran Lennox Joslyn have been honored with COSAGO’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Humanitarian Award, respectively, earlier than over 450 patrons on the very spacious and stylish catering home on Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens.
Bramble and Joslyn, who function COSAGO’s monetary trustee and member of the Fundraising Committee, respectively, have been additionally introduced with proclamations and quotation by Mayor Eric Adams and Council Member Mercedes Narcisse.
COSAGO’s Basic Secretary Ancilla Friday, who serves on the Mayor’s Caribbean-American Advisory Committee, introduced the proclamation on behalf of the mayor.
Haitian-born Narcisse, a registered nurse, who represents the 46th Council District in Brooklyn, was available to current the proclamation and quotation to Bramble and Joslyn, respectively.
COSAGO additionally introduced a Particular Award to veteran Caribbean broadcaster Don Bobb, a Vincentian nationwide, who often serves as Grasp of Ceremonies on the Gala Ball. In his absence, Laverne McDowald-Thompson, COSAGO’s vp and rapid previous president, accepted the award on his behalf.
“I congratulate our honorees, Col. Celia Bramble and Lennox Joslyn, for his or her excellent humanitarian service within the Diaspora,” mentioned COSAGO President Crispin Friday, husband of Ancilla Friday, in his welcome remarks.
Earlier than presenting the proclamation to Bramble, Narcisse mentioned that Bramble, her nursing colleague and longtime pal, has devoted her life to nursing training and repair.
“Her dedication to the Vincentian group and contributions to healthcare have been outstanding, and have been fittingly acknowledged at this prestigious occasion,” she mentioned.
Narcisse additionally famous Joslyn’s contributions to humanitarian causes and his “unwavering dedication to uplift and help the Vincentian group.”
“It’s all the time an honor to acknowledge people who’ve made such a profound impression on our group,” she mentioned. “Each Celia and Lennox have proven dedication, ardour and dedication of their respective fields, and it was a pleasure to honor them tonight.
“Celebrating the forty fourth Anniversary of the Independence of St. Vincent and the Grenadines alongside such inspiring people makes this occasion all of the extra particular,” Narcisse added.
Bramble informed the ceremony that “to say that I’m honored and humbled to obtain the Lifetime Achievement Award could be an understatement.
“I’m extraordinarily grateful to Ms. Erlene King, who felt that I deserved this nomination, in addition to to all those that supported her,” she added. “I’m grateful that the work that I’ve been so captivated with resonates with others.”
Joslyn thanked COSAGO for the award, including: “Every of us can do one thing that I did.”
In addressing the ceremony, Consul Basic Rondy “Luta” McIntosh, mentioned the Diaspora is “expensive to the guts” of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, including that it’s “so expensive that he just lately amended the Immigration Act to permit for second era Diasporans to develop into residents of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”
McIntosh mentioned though every Caribbean nation is “distinctive in its personal method and has loads to boast about, let me remind you that we’re one, and we should work collectively as we’re stronger as a collective than on our personal.”
He additionally appealed to Vincentian nationals to bask in “just a few issues” in his “begging bowl”.
“I urge that you just apply for the time without work for our 2024 flag-raising ceremony; I urge that, in 2024, you take part in as many independence actions as potential; I urge that each Vincentian get a Vincy passport; I urge that each Vincentian get a Vincy passport for his or her kids and grandchildren born right here; I urge that you just make investments extra in candy SVG; I urge that extra organizations be affiliated with COSAGO,” he mentioned.
“As soon as once more, let me want all Vincentians a contented forty fourth Anniversary of Independence, and should the Almighty proceed to bless our nation and our individuals,” he added.
Erlene Williams-King, a member of COSAGO’s Fundraising Committee, who served as Mistress of Ceremonies, requested for a second’s silence for the passing of Vaughan Toney, the Vincentian-born, former president and chief government officer of the Brooklyn-based Buddies of Crown Heights Academic Facilities, Inc., who died on Labor Day, Sept. 2; and Colin Liverpool, a Vincentian-born lawyer, who additionally went to the Nice Past earlier this 12 months.
The Vincentian-owned D Magma Band and DJ Supa Eyes supplied leisure to the sell-out patrons. Williams-King’s daughter, Abena Amory, rendered the Nationwide Anthem of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in addition to supplied the opening act for D Magma Band.
About Celia Bramble
Bramble is a retired nursing training specialist with many years of success in creating revolutionary applications for civilian and navy personnel. She started her nursing profession in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
She immigrated to the US within the late Sixties for a chance to advance her nursing profession. She obtained a Bachelor of Science Diploma in Nursing from C. W. Submit, Lengthy Island College, and Grasp of Arts, and Grasp of Schooling Levels in Nursing from Academics Faculty, Columbia College. She is featured within the Worldwide WHO’s WHO of Skilled Administration, Second Version.
Bramble was employed by the New York Metropolis Well being and Hospitals Company, Kings County Hospital
Heart for greater than 4 many years; she held quite a few positions till her retirement as Affiliate Govt
Director of Coaching and Organizational Improvement.
In that position, she was accountable for general planning, coordinating, and creating instructional applications for greater than 5,000 skilled and help workers inside the Central Brooklyn Household Well being Community.
Her accountability additionally included overseeing greater than 40 coaching initiatives supported by Group Well being Partnership funds.
As well as, she deliberate and coordinated medical experiences for college students from 14 affiliating Graduate and Undergraduate Colleges of Nursing within the New York Metropolis space.
She additionally facilitated Trauma Administration Coaching for navy personnel to assist them develop life-saving strategies and methods to supply the perfect care within the battlefield.
Within the mid-Nineteen Eighties, Bramble was commissioned as a captain in the US Military Reserve. Her navy profession included assignments in numerous navy amenities throughout peacetime and wartime.
She held a number of command and management positions, together with Assistant Chief Nurse, Chief of Nursing Schooling and Workers Improvement, Govt Officer, and Workplace-in-Cost of Persevering with Medical Schooling.
Her final project earlier than retirement was Commander of the 344th Fight Help Hospital, Fort Hamilton, New York.
As commander, she had the final word accountability to make sure that over 200 troopers of varied ranks and Army Occupational Specialties have been properly skilled and prepared for deployment to fight and non-combat areas, in addition to for Humanitarian missions.
Bramble resides in Brooklyn; she worships on the Vanderveer Park United Methodist Church, and is an
lively member of the Healthcare Ministry and the Workers Pastor Parish Relations Committee.
About Lennox Joslyn
Joslyn was born in St Vincent and the Grenadines and obtained his early training on the Emmanuel Excessive College, Kingstown. He was a member of the Brighton Scout Troop and have become an lively group helper.
He served as a Customs officer in St. Vincent and the Grenadines earlier than migrating to the US in 1971.
He enlisted within the US Military and was stationed in Germany, the place he had the chance to serve alongside troopers from France, the UK and Germany.
After his navy service, Joslyn returned to the US and accepted a place with the federal authorities within the Division of Veterans Affairs.
Throughout his early years with Veterans Affairs, he attended Metropolis College of New York and graduated with
a bachelor’s diploma.
Instantly after graduating, he was accepted right into a two-year Veterans Affairs Administrator internship program. After finishing this program, he was despatched to the VA Medical Heart in Salem, Virgina and labored as Assistant Chief of Environmental Administration Providers.
Throughout his tenure at Salem, he served in a number of administrative committees, resembling Equal Alternative, Logistics and Security, and Waste Administration.
In 1984, Joslyn returned to New York, the place he turned the Assistant Chief of Environmental
Administration Providers at Veterans Affairs, New York Healthcare System.
Joslyn was subsequently appointed to the chief place and inherited a workers of over 300 workers and
the administration of an annual funds of $20 million.
As well as, he served on a number of Veterans Affairs Nationwide Process forces, resembling Textile Care Manufacturing and Distribution, Manpower Allocations, Contract Negotiations and Tools Analysis and Buy.
In 2001, he was chosen as president of the New York Chapter for Environmental Administration Providers. This gave him the chance to go to a number of hospitals in New York and help with the coaching and environmental inspections.
As a navy veteran, Joslyn has been concerned in veteran organizations and has assisted quite a few veterans
with employment and tips to advantages.
He’s very pleased with his navy service and his 45 years in Federal Authorities Providers, particularly his service to fellow veterans.
As a long-standing member of the Striders Social Group, Joslyn has been concerned in quite a few
fundraising actions in help of the distribution of medical provides and scholarships to his homeland, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines. He additionally served as chairman of the Fundraising Committee for COSAGO.
