Caribbean Lawyers hold first major event as a bar association

December 16, 2022 Rob Abruzzese

The Caribbean American Lawyers Association held a Holiday Social & Scholarship Fundraiser at Negril Village in Manhattan on Tuesday, December 6. Pictured left to right: First Vice President Yvette Wills-Hinds, President Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix, and Second Vice President Michelle DeSouza. Eagle photos by Robert Abruzzese

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When Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix and the officers of the Caribbean American Lawyers Association got together to form a bar association of Caribbean lawyers and judges they knew it would take some time to come together.

However, they didn’t expect that it would take three years for CALA to host its first major event, but that’s what happened because they formed the bar association just prior to COVID, which forced them to refrain from hosting in-person events and meetings.

While they have met many times virtually over Zoom it wasn’t until Tuesday, December 6 that CALA members finally got together in person at Negril Village in Manhattan for a Holiday Social & Scholarship Fundraiser where they networked over dinner and drinks.

The group also gave out scholarships to two students of Caribbean descent and announced that they will be giving out seven smaller scholarships as well.

Hon. Paul Wooten (left) and Gregory Watts. Eagle photos by Robert Abruzzese

“The dinner was not just a holiday celebration, but was also an event to honor CALA’s scholarship award winners — Esther Lendore, a student at Rowan University and who hails from Grenada, received a $1,000.00 award; and Rebeca Lafond, a second-year CUNY Law School student from Haiti, received a $1,500.00 award,” said First Vice President Yvette Wills-Hinds. Seven smaller awards were issued in advance to the other scholarship awardees.

“The dinner also served as a fundraiser for next year’s scholarships and successfully raised over $10,000.00,” Wills-Hinds said. “The holiday dinner was a who’s-who of the legal community in New York City. Those in attendance included Hon. Lewis Douglas (ret.) and Hon. Yvonne Lewis (ret.), as well as several judges of the Appellate Division and the trial courts, who all came out to give back and support future members of the Caribbean-American legal community.”

CALA was formed by Justice Hinds-Radix, who now serves as the NYC Corporation Counsel, and many other members of the Caribbean legal community as a way to foster unity and congeniality among each other. The vision was that the group would help educate, advance, aspire and mentor the Caribbean American legal community.

Rudyard Whyte (left) and Hon. Eddie McShan. Eagle photos by Robert Abruzzese

CALA has been forced to hold online only events over the last three years, but is proud that without ever holding an in person event until last Tuesday the group has managed to host numerous continuing legal education seminars, fireside chats, and cultural presentations.