About Us

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Diaspora Committee of New York Inc (SVGDC NY), contributes to meeting the social, cultural, humanitarian and economic needs in SVG and in the Vincentian Diaspora in the USA. SVGDC NY works to promote the cohesion of the Vincentian community and the building of effective Vincentian diaspora institutions, and development processes. Further, SVGDC NY advocates for policies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the USA, the Caribbean, and the international community that empower Vincentian migrants in the USA and Vincentians in SVG. We particularly focus on raising awareness about the issues confronting the Vincentian Diaspora and its power and role in the context of "Migration, Diaspora, and Development."

​The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Diaspora Committee of New York Inc, has been in existence since 2010. However, it emerged from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cultural Symposium Committee which existed from 2002 - 2010, and which focused exclusively on cultural affairs. After the Homecoming Conference of 2009, a new formation was needed to go beyond cultural arts to embrace the full gamut of economic, social, and governance issues, challenges and opportunities identified. This gave birth to the  St. Vincent and the Grenadines Diaspora Committee of New York Inc. The committee was chaired by Maxwell Haywood since 2010 until his passing in November 2017. It's current Chairperson is Sherrill-Ann Mason.

Who We Are

               Pictured above: Sherrill-Ann Mason

The current executive elected January 2018
(2018--2020) includes:
​Sherrill-Ann Mason (Chairperson)
Atiba Williams (Vice Chairperson)
Philmore Sprott (General Secretary)
Theophilus Marshall (Treasurer)
​Sharon Mason (PRO) 
Dawn Dopwell (Trustee)
Terrance Edwards (Trustee)
Garnes Byron (Trustee)

Maxwell Haywood
(Founding Chairman, 1963 - 2017)

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The SVG Diaspora Committee of New York Inc. is a 501 C.3. non-profit organzation incorporated in the state of New York to provide opportunities for Vincentians at home and abroad to reflect and act effectively on vital issues and opportunities facing SVG and its Diaspora in the USA. Our vision is to see the existence of a Vincentian diaspora in the USA in which individual Vincentians, community organizations, and businesses work together in unity and solidarity to empower themselves in the USA and to contribute to the development of SVG.

The work of the committee focuses on three broad areas: Awareness Raising & Public Policy, Institution Building, Humanitarian efforts. The Committee also host various townhalls, and panel discussions, which have led to among other things contributions to the SVG National Cultural Policy, the SVG Diaspora Policy, and the establishment of two associations: Sports (SVGUSASA) and Culture (CAVUSA). Some of the organization's signature programming are the Diaspora Week in recognition of International Migraton Day, the Diaspora Conferences & Leadership Development workshops, and the Heritage Awards.