Benefit Concert raises $1,000 for St. Lucia

One hundred and fifty friends of St. Lucia showed up on a Sunday night to show their support at a benefit concert hosted by Ashkenaz Dance and Community Center in Berkeley. The event raised $1,000.00USD for the recovery efforts underway from the devastation caused by Hurricane Tomas last October.

The honored guest at the event was St. Lucia's ambassador to the UN, H. E. Dr. Donatus Keith St. Aimee. The ambassador gave a brief account of the current status of the reconstruction underway on the island and of areas where there is still great need by those affected by Tomas.
The evening opened with a stellar performance by the award-winning CSM Panhandlers Steel Orchestra led by Jim Munzenrider. the Panhandlers have been the premier steelpan program in the Bay Area for over 20 years.

A special slide show of the hurricane damage was provided by Caroline Trist and Charlotte Orishiao.

The show ended with dancing to Zouk and Soca music operformed by Koudmen,a group of Caribbean musicians in the Bay Area who came together especially for this event. Members included Dominican Kreyol Poet RasMo Moses; Bernard George (Dominica); Harry Best (St. Lucia); Ashton Craig (Trinidad and Tobago), Clayton Hazel (Dominica); Dilly George (Dominica);Danny Bittker (USA); Cliff Manswell (Trinidad and Tobago)and Tony D Durham (Trinidad and Tobago).

A great time was had by all present.

Proceeds from the event will go to the St Lucia Red Cross, a non-governmental, non-profit making organisation. The SLRC is a voluntary auxilliary to the government in its humanitarian services. It is responsible for development, programmes and outreach services in St Lucia.
The Red Cross in St. Lucia was founded in 1949 as a branch of British Red Cross. It ecame a national society in 1979 after St Lucia gained independence. Was formally recognised in 1983 by the Government of St Lucia, through the St Lucia Red Cross Act of 1983.