The Greater New York City Council of Carpenters Union on Saturday, September 25, invited Grenada’s United Nations permanent representative, Ambassador Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus, who’s island suffered devastating destruction from the direct hit of Hurricane Ivan, to its annual union membership family picnic on Long Island. The jovial Grenadian ambassador was presented with cash donations, collected at the labor union’s picnic from its membership and their families to assist in Grenada’s hurricane relief effort. Carlisle Paul, a Grenadian and the only black member of the union’s executive committee, initiated the successful hurricane relief drive. Members of his family residing in Grenada suffered extensive loss from the deadly hurricane The collected donation will be sent directly to the Government of Grenada by the union, they pledging additional contributions to be made from the executive committee at a later date. Peter Thomerson, the union president and Mike Forde, secretary treasurer, made the presentation to the Grenadian ambassador. Both Thomerson and Forde expressed the labor union’s sympathy and concern for the people of the devastated island. Ambassador Stanlislaus reciprocated by presenting a bottle of rare Grenadian rum to the president of the union, humorously telling him. “Whenever sampled it should be done in small portion, due to it age and rare availability.” This past weekend there were other fundraising events, including local radio station WWRL 1600 Radio’s day–long Radiothon. Listeners to the station pledged more than $8,000.00 towards the relief effort. Fund raising concert were staged with popular calypso, soca and reggae performers in Brooklyn at both KC’s Hideaway and the Elite Ark nightclub. Dedicated relief committee members collected and packed donated clothing and food brought to both locations for shipment to the devastated island. Members of the Grenada Reconstruction & Rebuilding Committee are currently visiting the island to assist in the distribution of the donated food and clothing and to assess the state of the country in the aftermath of the hurricane. They plan a meeting with the Grenadian community on their return to New York to report on the current situation on the island. Monetary donations should be sent to the Consulate of Grenada at 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400K, New York, NY 10017, or telephone 212-599-0301 for additional information. SOURCE: DONOVAN GOPIE