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– Air Jamaica Tickets To Be Awarded To Lucky Attendee
– Simultaneous Meetings Set for June 11, 2007 in Brooklyn and The Bronx —

Caribbean tourism ministers traveling to New York City for Caribbean Week 2007, slated for June 9-17, 2007, will interact with their New York-based constituents during Town Hall Meetings coordinated by the Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC). The Town Hall Meetings will take place simultaneously on Monday, June 11, 2007 from 6:30 pm – 9 pm at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn and St. Lukes Episcopal Church in the Bronx .

All attendees at the Town Hall Meetings will be entered to win a roundtrip airline ticket to any of Air Jamaica ’s Caribbean destinations, providing the opportunity for one lucky winner to return to their homeland for a visit or simply take a well-deserved vacation in paradise. Refreshments will be served.

Both Brooklyn and the Bronx are home to a large number of Caribbean nationals, making these venues convenient locations for the meetings, said Hugh Riley, one of the events main organizers. Town Hall Meetings present a rare opportunity for visiting tourism ministers and officials to share information and exchange ideas with Caribbean nationals in the New York area. This evening is designed to be a free-flowing exchange for those who are passionate about their countries of origin and eager to play a part in the further development of the region. Nationals of other Caribbean countries not represented are also welcome to attend.

In Brooklyn, attendees will meet at Medgar Evers College (S Building Auditorium, 1650 Bedford Avenue , between Montgomery & Crown Streets) where Hon. Aloun N’Dombet Assamba, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica , and Hon. Glen Beache, Minister of Tourism, St. Vincent and the Grenadines , will be on-hand to discuss the state of Caribbean tourism. This forum will be moderated by veteran broadcaster Donn Bobb.
In the Bronx, participants will meet at St. Lukes Episcopal Church (777 East 222nd Street at Barnes Avenue) with the Hon. Joseph Parry, Premier and Minister of Tourism, Nevis, and Hon. Richard Ricky Skerritt, Minister of the State for Tourism of St. Kitts & Nevis. The moderator for this session will be Irwine G. Clare, co-founder and managing director of Caribbean Immigration Services, Inc. (CIS).

Senator the Hon. Allen Chastanet, Minister of Tourism , St. Lucia and Chairman, CTO, will also be participating in the evenings events.

Additionally, the respective borough presidents have been invited to participate in these unique community forums.

It is expected that the Town Hall Meetings will comprise a cross-section of Caribbean nationals and friends of the Caribbean . The meetings cover all aspects of Caribbean tourism and attract a wide audience, including young adults interested in pursuing a career in the tourism industry, persons seeking investment opportunities, potential vacationers in search of the latest destination information, and Caribbean nationals who simply want to keep in touch.

The Town Hall Meetings are being held in partnership with Air Jamaica , Monroe College , the Caribbean Research Center at Medgar Evers College and www.CaribWorldNews.com (formerly www.HardBeatnews.com). Information on special vacation packages to the Caribbean will be available at the meetings.

For additional information or to confirm participation at the Town Hall Meetings, contact the Caribbean Tourism Organizations (CTO) New York Office directly at 212-635-9530; fax: 212-635-9511 or e-mail: [email protected]

About the Town Hall Moderators

DONN BOBB

A veteran broadcaster with over 30 years experience in the field, Mr. Bobb currently serves as the English News Anchor of the United Nations daily international newscast where he is the Chief of Caribbean Programs. He can be heard reporting the news on WVIP-FM (ormerly WRTN 93.5 FM) on Wednesdays and Fridays as well as on Carib World Internet radio. Mr. Bobb also has a weekly music/interview program on VOG-Grenada.

Originally from St. Vincent and the Grenadines , Mr. Bobb has done extensive work in the Caribbean, having been employed at the Windward Islands Broadcasting Service in Grenada , where he received his original training.

Following the demise of WIBS, he worked at Radio St. Vincent (1972-1979) before joining Radio Antilles in Montserrat as a broadcast journalist (1979-1981), later becoming News Director.

In 1982, Mr. Bobb was with ABS TV in Antigua as a news consultant during which time he also served as a stringer for the Associated Press. In 1983, he joined WLIB as an on-air personality where he worked for 20 years in various capacities, including as a disc jockey, news writer and presenter.

IRWINE G. CLARE

Mr. Clare is the co-founder and managing director of the Queens, New York-based Caribbean Immigration Services, Inc. (CIS), an organization founded in 1995 with the ultimate goal of mobilizing and empowering Caribbean nationals living in the U.S. Through informed presentations on immigration and the need for economic, social and political empowerment, Mr. Clare and his partner, attorney Winston Tucker, have established themselves as major community advocates on immigration reform and issues germane to the Caribbean community.

Mr. Clare devotes much of his time to speaking about the importance of being involved and empowered. He has been invited to speak on college campuses, at churches and before civic and community organizations throughout the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States as well as other areas throughout the country. In addition, his advocacy to the Caribbean is evident through a series of discussions entitled, “US Immigration, Impact on the Caribbean,” a major goal of which is to inform and sensitize Caribbean nationals and governments about the U.S. immigration laws and their impact on the region and its nationals.

His consistent advocacy on behalf of the Caribbean community led to an appointment by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to her advisory committee on Caribbean issues. Mr. Clare is a recipient of numerous awards and citations including a recent award from Congressman Gregory Meeks.