Toronto – The 13th annual Children’s Xmas party sponsored by the Advocates for Etobicoke Youth (A.F.E.Y.) brought together almost 500 kids, each accompanied by a parent or guardian, at the Woodbine Banquet Hall on December 17th. For many of these families it was their main Christmas event.
Inclusive of organizers and volunteers, there were in excess of 1000 people in the hall, mixing, mingling and sharing in the spirit and goodwill of the festive season.
Each child had his/her photograph taken while receiving a wrapped gift from Santa. In addition, parents and children were both provided a full meal together with a food hamper to take home. Games, face painting and a magician were all part of the entertainment provided. Towards the end there was spontaneous dancing by the kids, many of them joined by parents/guardians. Some of the organizers joined in as well.
Over the years A.F.E.Y. has received growing corporate support for this annual event. This year, like previously, Rio Can and TD bank made significant contributions. The Armstrong Group, as in the past, has strongly supported the event and was again present in large numbers lending a helping hand.
Ron Taverner from Toronto Police Service (23 Division) and prominent Toronto lawyer Dhaman Kissoon, who started the AFEY organization back in 2004, expressed their sincere thanks to all who assisted in making this year’s event the grand success it was. Woodbine Banquet Hall and the Rotary Club of Brampton Flower City were again singled out for special praise.
31st Congress
The elections were held last Saturday following the opening ceremony of the 31st Congress of the party and the results were announced on Monday as the curtains closed on the event.
Those elected to the 35-seat Central Committee are: Bharrat Jagdeo leading with with 718 votes; Dr Frank Anthony (620); Gail Teixeira (583); Donald Ramotar (570); Anil Nandlall (548); Clement Rohee (522); Ganga Persaud (512); Irfaan Ali (511); Zulfikar Mustapha (496); Shyam Nokta (495); Indra Chandarpal (490); Dr Roger Luncheon (488); Pauline Sukhai (460); Nigel Dharamlall (453); Dr Vindiya Persaud (439); Hydar Ally (422); and Vickram Bharrat (408).
Also making the Central Committee cut are Dharankumar Seeraj, Komal Chand, Collin Croal, Alister Charlie, Brian Allicock, Neil Kumar, David Armogan, Jennifer Westford, Vishwa Mahadeo, Clinton Collymore, Kwame McCoy, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, Faizal Jaffaraly, Majeed Hussain, Rickey Ramdat, Claire Singh, Anand Persaud, and Mitra Devi Ally.
The new Central Committee will be meeting shortly and among other items on the agenda will be the election of a new Executive Committee and the Party’s Secretariat. The Executive Committee consists of 15 members and is the highest decision making forum within the Party.
Over the three days, members brainstormed mechanisms to propel the Party to victory in the 2020 elections. Jagdeo told the Congress that the Party cannot be trapped by philosophy and argued that weaknesses which exist within the Party ultimately led to their defeat in the 2015 General and Regional Elections.
