Plans for producing and staging the 45th Annual Labor Day Carnival Festival & Parade is in the firm hands of a New Team of WIADCA members.
This much and more was conveyed in a face to face meeting in Brooklyn on Friday 27th, by a delegation from the organization who met with a number of elected leaders who initially expressed some concern about the upcoming 2012 Carnival Festival. Led by Assemblyman Nick Perry, the political leaders included Assemblyman Karim Camara, City Council members Jumaane Williams and Letitia “Tish” James and State Senator Kevin Parker.
Thomas "Tom" Bailey - President of WIADCA
The annual Labor Day Carnival Festival that culminates with the famed Labor Day Carnival Parade, down Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, will be managed and run this year by this new team. Just two weeks ago, amid swirling negative and unsubstantiated speculations, WIADCA members threw their unconditional support behind veteran Brooklyn soccer organizer and WIADCA stalwart, Thomas “Tom” Bailey, as its new president replacing Yolanda Lezama- Clark who recently resigned.
Asked by Bryan Block about a letter being circulated to all the politicians and others, they said that they “know nothing” about the letter calling for a suspension of WIADCA and setting up another organization/authority to run and manage the carnival festival.
President Bailey told the meeting attendees that neither he nor the organization were contacted or informed about this and like everyone else just saw the letter in circulation. He said that he and the organization has “moved beyond this moot issue” and was focused on producing the best and safest carnival festival ever.
“We brought them up to date about what was happening and where we were at present. They all expressed support for the New WIADCA Team and we assured them that we’ll keep them engaged and informed about our progress. We also asked for their help in securing funding for the carnival festival and other areas where we felt their influence could help to make things run smoothly. All in all, it was a good meeting. We’re all on the same page now,” Bailey said.
“The organization’s membership has spoken. I am honored and humbled to become the third individual to lead this important group that is the lawful custodian of the annual Labor Day Carnival Festival. The new WIADCA TEAM is committed to the preservation of our culture and to move the organization forward in a new and positive direction,” President Bailey said.
Other Officers of the Team of 15 are: Eric Gibbs, Chairman, Bryan Block-VP, Deborah Benjamin-VP, William “Bill” Howard-VP, Angela Sealy-Treasurer & Jean P. Alexander-Secretary. Included in the Board are five new Members. In the past two weeks, this WIADCA Team has already met with both Mas and Steel bands and presented them with checks that were won at the 2011 competitions. Bailey told both organizations at the packed, standing room only meetings, that at the top of his priority list was “improving relations with all of the carnival festival’s stakeholders.”
“Let us together usher in a new era of cooperation and friendship. I want to hear from you and what are your concerns. This festival is bigger than one individual or organization. We must come together to take it to new and bigger heights. I need your help and support,” Bailey said.
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