BY TONY BEST

THE UMBILICAL CORD of this five-year-old organisation in New York is inextricably tied to Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and their Caribbean neighbours.

It meets regularly at the Barbados Consulate-General in Manhattan, and Bajans, Trinidadians, Guyanese, Haitians and Jamaicans are among its driving forces. Indeed, its membership reflects the diversity of the Caribbean.

It's the Caribbean-American Medical and Scientific Association (CAMSA), which was founded in 2003 to help improve "the health of Caribbean peoples through medical, educational, scientific and charitable initiatives".

Another key objective, as articulated on CAMSA's website and by its current president, Dr Steve Caddle, a Barbadian pediatrician in the city, is "to honour the work of outstanding individuals who have contributed in a major way" to the Caribbean immigrant community and the countries in the region.

That's why, on Saturday, May 17, the association will do just that by singling out three individuals – a Bajan priest with almost 50 years in the pulpit; a Guyanese health educator and administrator; and a college professor from Barbados with an eye on political office at City Hall – and a "faith-based" organisation that provides medical, surgical, dental and vision care to the poor and under-served in different parts of the world.

One such honoree this year is Canon Llewellyn Armstrong, an Episcopal (Anglican) priest in the Caribbean, Canada and the United States since 1963. Dr Armstrong, when he isn't ministering to the religious needs of his congregation, is pursuing his "passion" for education as a teacher, adviser and mentor for students at various stages of their lives, whether in elementary or high school or in college or university. A theologian with multiple baccalaureate and Master's degrees in religion, the social sciences and education, the priest is currently rector of Calvary/St Cyprian's Church in Brooklyn.

Another person scheduled to receive an award for outstanding work is Dr Margaret Sukhram, associate director of the Office of Minority Health in the Suffolk County Department of Health Services on Long Island. Sukhram, a Guyanese whose professional career in nursing, health education and administration spans over 30 years, has directed much of her energy into eliminating health deficiencies in poor and ethnic minority communities. At different times she has served as a consultant for several international and Caribbean organisations.

Next is Professor Sam Taitt, who teaches communications at Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY), while presenting and hosting a weekly cable television programme, Brooklyn 45 With Sam Taitt, that's broadcast on Brooklyn Community Access Television, BCAT.

Taitt, a former general manager of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation in Barbados, has received undergraduate and a Master's degrees from CUNY. He is a skilled choir director and organist.

At the same time, Taitt, who is deeply involved in Brooklyn's community and political life, is mounting his third campaign to win a New York City Council seat from Brooklyn. The election is to be held next year.

Then, there is the Dorcas Medical Mission, an eight-year-old organisation named for the biblical heroine Dorcas, whose story was chronicled in the Acts Of The Apostles. Like her, the medical mission is dedicated "to helping those in desperate need".

That explains why it has mounted 16 missions to nine countries, reaching more than 100 000 people in the Caribbean, Africa and Latin America since the turn of the century.

The luncheon is being held at Antun's Banquet centre in Queens Village, New York.

For its part, CAMSA has participated in and has organised health missions to the Caribbean and Asia, holds an annual conference on immigration health issues, and uses its website www.camsa.org to distribute educational materials.

"We owe a deep debt of gratitude to the medical specialists and other health care professionals, scientists, educators and others who have made their mark in mass communications and technology for our ability to prosper," said Dr O'Neall Parris, a Barbadian and the founding-president of the association.