22nd April, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
ERNEST CASTRO HEADS THE NATIONAL GARIFUNA COUNCIL
Last Saturday in Dangriga, the National Garifuna Council Board of Directors met for the first time after the Convention and, among other things, elected a new National Executive Committee to lead the organization for the next two years. The members of the new NGC Executive Committee are:
President Ernest Castro
1st Vice President Fabian Cayetano
2nd Vice President Philip Zuniga
Treasurer Dativa Martinez
Assistant Treasurer Marietta Enriquez
Secretary Franklin Martinez
Assistant Secretary Merli Lopez
The election of the new executive of the National Garifuna Council would normally have taken place at the Annual Convention held in Georgetown, Stann Creek District, last March. At that time it was decided to put in place a Committee that was to be responsible for leading the organization until a new Executive Committee could be put in place. That Committee has now discharged its mandate and handed over the leadership of the organization to the duly elected executive.
The NGC welcomes Ernest Castro, the new President who is from the Belmopan Branch and replaces immediate Past President, Michael Polonio, under whose leadership the organization made much progress during the last four years. It was agreed that much attention will be given during this term to contact and communication with the Branches and the general public. To that end, and in the spirit of the organization continuing to renew itself, Branches are to hold Annual General Meetings and elections for branch officers between 15 April and 15 June as prescribed by the Articles of Association, efforts will be made to keep the NGC website http://ngcbelize.org continuously updated and attention is called to the fact that the email address is now ngcbelize@gmail.com.
