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The Caribbean Association of North Alabama (CANA) hosted its Caribbean American Heritage Gala last evening in Huntsville , Alabama. The purpose of the event was to celebrate the contributions of Caribbean Americans (from Alexander Hamilton to Eric Holder) and the strong relationship between the United States and the Caribbean.

The Gala began at 7PM with Host Kenneth Anderson, City of Huntsville’s Director of Multicultural Affairs, officiating as Master of Ceremony. The keynote speaker for the event was Honorable Mark Brantley, St.Kitts-Nevis Minister of Foreign Affairs and Aviation and Nevis Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism, Health, Culture, Youth, Sports, Community Development, Gender and Social Welfare . Other Caribbean officials from other Islands, including the Consulate of the Islands of Trinidad and Tobago were in attendance.

Prior to the Gala Brantley met with members of the Caribbean Association of North Alabama (CANA) in a Breakfast meeting where a number of issues critical to the development of St.Kitts-Nevis and the Caribbean were discussed.

One of the hilights of the event was the awarding of military personnel of Caribbean pedigree serving or who has served in the U.S. Military.

The association also used the occasion to announce that Scholarships will be offered to students of Caribbean lineage pursuing a tertiary education from a North Alabama institution.

Organizers hope that the event will not only serve as a symbol of U.S. and Caribbean UNITY but also as a launch pad for Caribbean leaders to initiate networking and trade relationship with key Alabama entities.