The president of the Brooklyn-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines Nurses Association of New York, Inc. (SVGNANY), Dionne Crichton-Bailey, has described as a resounding success the group’s inaugural Tea Party, held on Saturday, June 9 at the Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center in Brooklyn.
“Feedback was very positive, and everyone enjoyed the ambience,” Crichton-Bailey, a registered nurse, told Caribbean Life. “We would like to thank everyone who attended – supported to make this event the success it was.”
The event, dubbed “Tea Party with a Difference,” featured, among other things, drumming by Divine Drummers (comprising Anthony “TJ” Husbands, Jr., Kyle Bailey, 8, and Tyeshawn Porter); selections by recording artists Shanique and Hilton Samuel, and Erlene Williams-King, aide to former St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consul General Cosmus Cozier; trumpeters Gavin Carter and Christian Destine, both 10, students at P.S. 312 in Brooklyn; and modeling of African outfits, designed by Brooklyn-based Chinyere Onyeizu.
“On reflecting on our profession, we as nurses encounter many various cultures, and embracing others’ cultures makes our world a beautiful place,” Crichton-Bailey said. “With that in mind, we thought it would be great to celebrate other cultures over tea, with an African theme, being the first [Tea Party].
“This was beautifully highlighted by the lovely decorations of kente colors, modeling of African attire and drumming,” she added.
The models — in casual, evening, business and wedding attires — were Tijana, Leezana, Stacey, Cristine, Kiana, Casandra and Pamela [registered nurse and SVGNANY member].
Saxophonists Carter, of St. Kitts parentage, and Destine, of Jamaican and Haitian parentage, wowed the appreciative audience with “Dark Force,” “Uptown Funk,” “Trust” and “Covert Ops.”
Williams-King sought the audience’s participation with “In the Jungle” and “The River Come Down.”
Shanique rendered “Thank You Lord” and “I Can Do Anything”; while Tobagonian Samuel, sang “The Prayer,” the title of his first CD.
DJ Bucks International provided music, while Vincentian Chef Lloni provided finger foods and pastries.
Crichton-Bailey said SVGNANY provides and/or participates in, among other things, health fairs; health teaching and counseling; scholarship awards; donation of medical supplies; and conduct of educational services in New York and in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
