For three days next month, St. Croix will be the center of business in the Caribbean.
From Oct. 14 to 17, the fourth annual Carib News Conference will be held at the Sunterra Carambola Beach Resort. According to Karl Rodney, publisher of the New York City-based Carib News, more than 400 influential African-American and Caribbean business and political leaders will be on-island to network.
Among those scheduled to attend are Ambassador Andrew Young, Congressman Charles Rangel and David Dinkins, former mayor of New York City.
"After two years of prodding by (Delegate to Congress Donna Christian Christensen), we were invited to look at the Virgin Islands and St. Croix in particular," Rodney said at a press conference at the Carambola on Friday.
Rodney said the aim of the multinational conference is to bring together movers and shakers from the Caribbean and the United States to help develop the emerging markets in the region. The territory, Rodney said, is in a unique position to be a bridge between Caricom and the African-American business community.
Corporations like AT&T, Coca-Cola, Western Union and Lucent Technologies have participated in past conferences in Jamaica, Barbados and St. Lucia.
"It’s a serious way to explore business potential and possibilities," Rodney said.
This year’s conference will have some "big players," he said, including more than 12 members of Congress, two Clinton Cabinet members and many Caribbean heads of state.
Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II, who along with Christensen and the V.I. Department of Tourism organized the event, said the conference will not only benefit the Virgin Islands, but the connections made on St. Croix could help the entire region.
Acting Tourism Commissioner Michael Bornn said for St. Croix to host an event that attracts such high-caliber people is a "terrific opportunity."
"These are the types of events we need to promote and enhance the Virgin Islands," he said. "This is an opportunity for the Virgin Islands to interact with successful African Americans."
