The event is being planned and spearheaded by the Sandy Point Benevolent Society, SPBS, which has scheduled, what they are calling, ‘the largest banquet ever’.
During the banquet, the group will honour two nationals and a community organization for the work they have done in the past to help in the social and economic development of St. Kitts and the town of Sandy Point, in particular.
Sharing the spotlight will be the civic organization, known as SPIRIT, which for the past couple years has organized the annual Black San Easter Festival in Sandy Point. Also down for recognition are renowned educator and calypsonian Singing Jackie, and past principal of Sandy Point High School, (now CEMSS), William V. Hodge.
Organizers say the Awards Banquet promises to be a reunion of sorts, an evening of celebrating, connecting and reconnecting, with friends, classmates, schoolmates, teachers and nationals.
Scores of nationals will be travelling from across the US and also from St. Kitts and Nevis to attend this gala affair, in less than one week’s time, during the annual Labour Day week end festivities, in New York.
The Sandy Point Benevolent Society, which is a Sandy Point High School alumni association, has been hosting the Annual Benefit Gala in New York City, for what would be three years and this year it will be staged at the Eastwood Manor Banquet Hall, 371 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY.
It will be held under the patronage of Sir Hugh and Lady Rawlins, Retired Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Sir Hugh is also a former teacher of History at the CEMSS.
Other notable dignitaries will include St. Kitts & Nevis Ambassador to the US, Jacinth Henry-Martin. She will attend in a show of support for her Alma mater, Sandy Point High.
The 2013 SPBS Benefit Gala will feature as its Special Guest Speaker, Dr. Spencer Eugene Amory. Dr. Amory serves as the Jose M. Ferrer Clinical Professor of Surgery, at the Columbia University College Physicians and Chief of General Surgery at the Columbia University Medical Center.
A spokesman for the organization said that its members are on a mission to sell tickets that will ensure a sellout crowd of at least 300 guests. The $90.00 event cost will allow for an all-night open bar, free entry in door prize drawings, trinkets, customized with the national colours of St. Kitts and Nevis and a complimentary souvenir magazine printed in celebration of 20112 Gala Event. Patrons at the banquet will have an opportunity to participate in the annual raffle with a grand prize of a Cruise for Two.