Florida Caribbean Cruise Association spreads Christmas cheer

Students receiving gifts
Students receiving gifts

Approximately 200 students from various learning institutions in Dominica have benefited from the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Holiday Gift Project for the Caribbean’s underprivileged Children.

Students of the Newtown Primary School, Petite Savanne Primary School and Achievement Learning Center (ALC) were presented with gifts courtesy of crew personnel of the MV Celebrity Summit, during a ceremony held at the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) Building on Wednesday.

The crew arrived aboard the ship which is presently docked at the Roseau Cruise Ship Berth.

The program which is locally coordinated by the Discover Dominica Authority and the Ministry of Tourism and Urban Renewal, was designed to reach out to FCCA‘s partners in the Caribbean, by providing holiday gifts to underprivileged children in foster homes, or institutions where holiday gifts would not ordinarily be possible.

“This year we are in a different situation, but we are still able to do this with the children that are close by, and Petite Savanne children who are displaced,” Coordinator of the West Dominica Children’s Federation, Beverly Baron said while addressing the ceremony. “We want them to have a good time because they have suffered some trauma, and this year we hope they enjoy the gifts. We hope that everything goes very smoothly, we hope they enjoy the party…”

According to Baron the gifts means a lot to the children.

“We want to say that those children here, they may not even get another gift for the season, so these gifts means a lot to them,” she stated.

Baron thanked the FCCA and all the other members who came onboard for making this activity continue from year-to-year.

“We hope to see them again next year,” she stated.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dominica Air and Seaport Authority (DASPA), Benoit Bardouille told members of the Celebrity crew that it is important that they brought business to Dominica.

“We would want you to know that the value of that business is important in terms of our partnership, and we would like you to continue to have your superiors on the line in terms of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity to continue to make Dominica one of the stops that during the cruise season and even during the off season, that they can continue to make stops into Dominica” Bardouille said. “It is important for us for our economy in terms of the tourism business so that we can earn much needed foreign exchange.”

Bardouille called on the children to make the best use of the gifts presented to them.

He thanked the FCCA and the Celebrity Cruise Lines for the gesture in terms of providing gifts to our children who may not have a gift during the Christmas season.

Meantime, Human Resource Manager of the MV Celebrity Summit who represented the Captain, Neville Clive Lodewyks said it is very special to be in Dominica and to participate in this activity.

“I want to thank you for inviting us to be part of this once again and for giving myself and part of the amazing crew we have on the ship an opportunity to be here,” he stated.

Last year over 30 destinations participated in the program, with over 7,000 children receiving holiday gifts. Reports from the FCCA confirm that over 40 destinations will benefit from this year’s program.

Dominica has benefited from this program for over twenty years.

 

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2 Comments

  1. SweetS
    December 8, 2016

    Thank you FCCA we appreciate your contribution.

  2. December 8, 2016

    Allu doh coment under dis ? Wonder y ? All of allu mayb send allu children for the white man toys for christmas so its ok thats y nobody say anything . If it was something else allu would coment .. greedy dominicans like things the white man bring thatsny allu does get catch

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