NEW YORK - In a highly emotional ceremony, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas on Monday presented a citation which accompanies the Spice Isle award to Mr. Joachim Mark in a Brooklyn Hospital. The award was presented to Mr. Mark, a former resident of Birch Grove who now resides in New York, during Grenada’s 35 anniversary of Independence, for his contribution to Grenada. The Birch Grove resident migrated to the United States in 1958 and was very instrumental in providing a home for his compatriots who he encouraged to come to New York to study. An engineer by profession, his contribution to life in New York in general and to the Grenadian community in particular has been heralded as “outstanding.” “It is very important that we honor you for what you have done for Grenada. The contribution made to one’s country must never go unnoticed,” Prime Minister Thomas said. Mr. Mark, who appeared moved by the moment, repeatedly thanked the Prime Minister for the award with one family member expressing the family’s “deep appreciation” for it. The Prime Minister also visited Dr. Roy A. Hastick, Sr., President and founder of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) at his Brooklyn Home. Dr. Hastick, despite illness, continues to make a significant contribution to the relationship between Caribbean peoples in New York and the improvement of trade, investment and commerce between the Caribbean and the United States. ”I really appreciate your coming, it means so much to me,” Dr. Hastick said told the Prime Minister. He said CACCI is working on ways to access US Government funds which are allocated for small business development in the hemisphere based on a pronouncement by US President Barack Obama at the recent Summit of the Americas in Trinidad. Although not as mobile as he used to be, Dr. Hastick and his CACCI Executive, who were present at the courtesy call, are still seeking ways of attracting business to the region. The CACCI is working with the Grenada Mission to the United Nations to attract developers into Grenada. “We have to find ways to get New York to invest in the region,” he declared. Prime Minister Thomas welcomed the CACCI involvement and reaffirmed his government’s decision to set up a Diaspora desk which “will improve communications and build a relationship that will harness Grenadian expertise and talents in the Diaspora to the benefit to the island and the region.” “The time for us to capitalize on the skills and talents who are living out of Grenada…CACCI will play a significant role on the commercial end,” the Prime Minister told the small gathering.