By: Fern Sidman
A major “Unity in Action” event was jointly sponsored by the Caribbean-Israel Leadership Coalition and The Bridge Multicultural and Advocacy Project on July 23rd and 24th at the latter’s Flatbush Avenue offices. This vibrant and diverse conference attracted hundreds of participants including prominent civic, religious and business leaders from the Jewish community of New York City as well as a distinguished array of leaders from Caribbean countries. The leadership assemblage of both communities exchanged innovative ideas and suggestions to build strong economic ties with the State of Israel.
Bishop Andre Thomas, the President of the CILC welcomed the litany of dignitaries from around the globe who traveled to Brooklyn for the express purpose of attending this groundbreaking conference. In a speech that pulsated with great passion and commitment to this seminal venture, Bishop Thomas expressed tremendous optimism at the panoply of opportunities available from the Israeli government to assist Caribbean countries in the fields of business and technology, agricultural support, cyber security and the development of state of the art housing construction.
Mark Meyer Appel, the founder and CEO of The Bridge welcomed the assembled guests and expressed his palpable excitement in joining this partnership with the CLIC. “This joint economic project will further enhance the mission of The Bridge in uniting our diverse communities,” he said.
“The Bridge has a long and storied history of assisting many countries in times of need. We are exceptionally pleased to join this project which will provide economic development for those Caribbean countries that are in need of assistance. Our internationally renowned success in the rescue work that we organized in Puerto Rico, Yemen and Haiti during some very difficult times just underscores the critical necessity of establishing strong partnerships with communities in the United States and Israel, ” declared Mr. Appel
Mr. Appel then introduced the Economic Minister of Israel to North America; the Honorable Inon Eloy.
Apostle Pastor James Duncan who organized the conference proclaimed that this project will be highly huge successful in helping many Caribbean countries expand their exports and agricultural capacity.
The Goal of Caribbean Israel Leadership Coalition is:
• To drive and facilitate the use of ground-breaking Israeli innovation, expertise and technology into the Caribbean
• To facilitate economic and social development for the less developed states of the Caribbean
• To boost economic growth, create jobs, enhance livelihoods, and strengthen access to quality healthcare and educational opportunities. These would play a significant role towards achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals in the Caribbean
The Caribbean Israel Leadership Coalition also functions as a nexus between the Caribbean community, religious organizations, elected and public officials, civil society and the private sector and works toward opening the lines of communication between the government and people of Israel and the government and people of the Caribbean.
Ms. Cleautrice Smith, CEO of W.O.W. Empowerment Organization traveled from Washington D.C. to New York to participate in this influential conference. “I find it very important that nations and cultures can come together for a mutual effort, to bring peace and prosperity to every nation without bias or prejudice,” she commented. “I believe that the partnership between “The Bridge” and the CLIC as well as the State of Israel will propel one another forward in a way that will not only set the standard for that nation or country, but for the entire global economy and will bring all involved to greater wealth and prosperity.”
This conference will be followed with a major exhibition on September 25th and 26th at The Bridge location in Brooklyn during United Nations General Assembly week. At this venue in the heart of the Caribbean and Jewish Communities of Brooklyn is where Israeli corporations and financial institutions will display and present specific economic funding and investment opportunities. The upcoming conference will be an historic event with the attendance of diplomatic leaders from Israel and many Caribbean counties. The honorable Dani Dayan, the Consul General of Israel to New York will be a featured speaker at the conference as he promulgates his vision of the unification project.
Mr. Appel added that, “the main headquarters for the CLIC is based in Barbados, The Bridge offices in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn will serve as the New York City headquarters for this joint project.”
