GABPC hosts Sixth Annual Awards Dinner in NY

Some 250 business executives and persons from the legal, academic and cultural professions in New York came together to celebrate the achievements of six awardees. The ladies were fashionably dressed in shades of green while the men were elegantly attired with green ties, shirts or pocket handkerchiefs. The theme for the evening was “Forging Links into the Green Age”.
Hon. Peter Vallone, NY City Councilman District 22 made a special appearance and congratulated the organisation and the six individuals/ organisations , who were acknowledged for their outstanding contributions in health and scientific research, entrepreneurship and business advocacy, community representation and active concern for the environment.
Dr. Deborah Persaud, MD, an immigrant from Guyana and a graduate of York College, Queens, New York, said, “I view my life as being part of the ‘American Dream’ where miracles can happen and hard work is recognised and rewarded”.
Time Magazine has named Dr. Persaud, the John Hopkins Children’s Center HIV expert, virologist and infectious disease specialist as one of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2013.
Jack Friedman, Executive Director the Queens Chamber of Commerce was honoured for his advocacy and contributions to the business community.
Other honourees were; Patrick Ramlall, CEO, Rams Bottled Water philanthropy and community consciousness; Mark Chandarpaul, CEO, Go Solar Green NY in recognition of environmentally conscious business model for new small business; Bon Secours Virginia Health System for their excellence and leadership of the environment. James Gennaro, New York Council Member and recipient of the 2013 Environmental Quality award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was honoured for his public service and work as Chairman of NY City Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection.
TD Bank, one of the awardees was singled out for its outstanding effort that made it the largest U.S. based bank to become carbon neutral.
Leyland Hazlewood, President, Guyanese and American Business and Professional Council (GABPC) said, “Our ‘green’ theme symbolises our universal connectedness as expressed in our concern for sustainability of biodiversity, which of course includes us all. Like globalisation, we ignore at our peril the fact that economics and the environment now link all parts of the world”.
The evening was punctuated by entertainment from the exciting Samba Nova Dance Group and Kavita Tajeswar’s graceful choreographic interpretations of modern Indian music. Attendees themselves were able to choreograph their own steps to modern dance music late into the evening.
The 2013 Gala Awards Dinner enjoyed support from a wide range of organisations – Bon Secours Health System, Inc. as a platinum sponsor, Visiting Nurse Service of New York Choice Health Plans, Athena Health, TD Bank, Zara Luxury Apartments and Homes, United Health Care, Sybil’s Restaurant and Bakery, Health Diagnostics Laboratory Inc, Unique Professional Creations and MultiViz Health Services, HUB International, and several other businesses.