Group Chief Executive Officer of GraceKennedy Ltd., Don Wehby leads a distinguished panel of speakers scheduled to participate in an interactive engagement titled “Caribbean Forum,” organized by Grace Kennedy Money Services and its business partner Western Union. The forum which is being held under the theme, “Engaging the Diaspora – Enriching the Caribbean,” will take place on Thursday, May 8 starting at 5:30 p.m. at Tropical Paradise Ballroom in Brooklyn. Admission is free.
Members of the Caribbean Diaspora are invited to come and listen to several illustrious speakers as they explore and exchange ideas on: Economic Integration through Education and The Impact of the Dream Act on Education.
Joining CEO Don Wehby at the Caribbean Forum are: James Moss-Solomon, exec-in-residence at the Mona School of Business, University of the West Indies(UWI); Sean Mason, regional vice president Caribbean, Western Union and Brian Figeroux, Esq., attorney-at-law, Figeroux and Associates.
The guest speakers bring a vast wealth of knowledge and experience having worked regionally and internationally in a variety of disciplines. James Moss-Solomon is the consummate Caribbean professional with proven expertise in commerce and industry and is a key player in a body of work surrounding negotiation, trade relations and other matters related to CARICOM. Currently, he is on secondment to the Mona School of Business and Management at the University of the West Indies (UWI) as Executive-in-Residence. Sean Mason is responsible for Western Union’s business across 29 countries and territories in the English, French and Dutch Caribbean, encompassing all company products and services, as well as agents’ relationship management. With a strong finance and marketing experience, prior to joining Western Union, Mason held positions at globally respected financial institutions, such as American Express and KPMG Peat Marwick, working in Jamaica and the United States.
New York attorney Brian Figeroux, rounds out the list of speakers who will address the forum. An attorney who is passionate and concerned about his community, Figeroux sees first-hand, on a daily basis, the issues and struggles of minority communities. He strongly believes in giving back to the communities, which supports his practice and subscribes to the Chinese proverb of “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” As a result, he has also set-up the New American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) which he supports financially and otherwise to address the concerns of small businesses in the Black and Latino communities.
With the continued growth of the Caribbean Diaspora, more and more entities are realizing the vast potential of this group and are seeking to engage them in investment opportunities, which would enrich the region.
A recent World Bank study underscores the important role that the Diaspora can play in the Caribbean’s economic development, but points to several challenges that must be addressed, if we are to fully capitalize on the economic potential of this sizeable, well-educated, and affluent demographic.
More information about the Caribbean Forum is available by calling (718) 693-0300 or (718) 576-4438.
