23rd Annual Caribbean American Heritage Awards Set for November 18th

The 2016 Caribbean American Heritage Awards, which is held under the patronage of the Caribbean Diplomatic Corps will honor: Gabriel Abed, CEO, BITT (Barbados); Dr. Goulda Downer, CEO, Howard University Capital Region Telehealth Center (Jamaica); Ambassador Eddie Greene, UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS (Guyana); David Hochoy, Artistic Director, Dance Kaleidoscope (Trinidad); Machel Montano, Soca Artiste Extraordinaire (Trinidad); and Victoria Rowell, award winning Actress, Author and foster-care Advocate (Jamaica).

Dr. Claire Nelson, ICS Founder and President, emphasized that, "ICS started the CARAH Awards twenty-three years ago in an effort to highlight the accomplishments of Caribbean Americans, and to provide a forum for honoring and recognizing their contributions to America and the world".

Over the years, well known individuals such as, Susan Taylor, former editor-in-chief of Essence magazine, Rita Marley, reggae matriarch and philanthropist, Earl Graves Sr., publisher of Black Enterprise, and George Willie, Co-Founder of National Association of Black Accountants, have received a CARAH Award. Friends of the Caribbean honored have included Congresswoman Barbara Lee and the Honorable Andrew Young.

The event will be hosted by ABC TV News Anchor, Maureen Bunyan, who is of Caribbean heritage. Entertainment for the evening will be anchored by the top Caribbean Band in Washington DC, IMAGE Band and Pan Lara Steel Orchestra. Event partners include CaribNation TV which will co-executive produce the Gala for television, and Boom Production Services.