Caribbeans in Atlanta Welcome St. Kitts/Nevis Ambassador Designate Dr. Phillip-Browne

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Red Carpet Shelley and Dr. Phillip-Browne
Red Carpet Shelley and Dr. Phillip-Browne
Dr. Thelma Phillip-Browne, St. Kitts/Nevis Ambassador to the United States
Dr. Thelma Phillip-Browne, St. Kitts/Nevis Ambassador to the United States

On Friday, Sept. 25 the St. Kitts Nevis Association of Atlanta (SKNAA) welcomed Dr. Thelma Phillip-Browne.  Dr. Browne is the St. Kitts Nevis Ambassador (designate) to the United States. Atlanta Caribbean tastemakers (such as myself!) and members of the various Caribbean organizations alike welcomed Dr. Browne to Atlanta.

Atlanta Caribbeans gather to welcome Dr. Thelma Phillip-Browne
Atlanta Caribbeans gather to welcome Dr. Thelma Phillip-Browne

In addition to welcome addresses from the myriad of Caribbean organizations, Dr. Phillip-Browne, a dermatologist by trade, also introduced herself to Atlanta.  Adorned in traditional Caribbean folk garments, Dr. Phillip-Browne hastened us to think of ourselves as the “New Argonauts”.  She reminded us of the importance of returning to our home countries to give back and stop the prevalent Caribbean “brain drain”.   Dr. Phillip-Browne spoke of identifying our human resources throughout the Diaspora and forming “brain circles” (I love this term!).

Red Carpet Shelley and Dr. Phillip-Browne
Red Carpet Shelley and Dr. Phillip-Browne

 

The address was a wonderfully crafted, heartfelt, and warm introduction to the kind of Ambassador Dr. Phillip-Browne will be. Later on in the evening as I sat next to her for an interview, I felt the warmth of her spirit juxtapositioned against the quiet strength of her determination.  I am certain she will fare well in her new ambassadorial role.

Host for the evening, Denise Quinlan, receives Certificate of Appreciation from DACA
Host for the evening, Denise Quinlan, receives Certificate of Appreciation from DACA

 

The evening also included a tasting of Ou-Oui! Premium Rum Liqueurs from Founder and President of Caribbean Smooth Premium Rum Liqueur Nigel Walwyn,(www.caribbeansmooth.com).  The night concluded with attendees tiny winying, palancing and did the electric sliding with DJ Choice One.

Proceeds from the event benefited the Dominica Atlanta Community Association (DACA) Tropical Storm Erika Relief Fund, to offset the cost of shipping barrels of relief supplies to Dominica in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Erika. Thank you to Denise Quinlan, President of SKNAA for organizing such a wonderful event!  It was indeed a memorable evening.

Dr. Edward Layne, Barbados Honorary Consul
Dr. Edward Layne, Barbados Honorary Consul

 

Organizations in Attendance:

Denise Quinlan, President – St. Kitts Nevis Association of Atlanta Inc. (SKANAA)

Marilyn Browne, Immediate Past VP –  Guyana Association of Georgia, Inc.

Dr. Elaine Bryan – The Elaine Bryan Foundation

Tony Gray, VP – Atlanta Jamaican Association, Inc. (AJA)

Honorary Consul, Marva Jacobs – Honorary Consulate of Guyana

Sherwin James, President – The Dominica Atlanta Community Association, Inc. (DACA)

Honorary Consul of Barbados, Dr. Edward Layne – The Caribbean Diaspora for Science, Technology and Innovation (CADSTI)

Uldeen Lee, President – Antigua and Barbuda Association of Georgia, Inc.

Benjamin Norbert, President – St. Lucia Association of Georgia, Inc.

Sharon Robinson, Interim Research Library Administrator – Auburn Avenue Research Library

Valrie Walker Sanders, Founder – Georgia Caribbean American Heritage Coalition, Inc.

Sherryl Thegg, Executive Director – Spice of the Caribbean Association of Georgia, Inc.

Austin Thompson, CEO – Thompson Management Consulting, Inc.

Joyce Thompson, President – Trinidad and Tobago Association of Georgia, Inc.

Jackie Watson, President – The Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, Inc.

 

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