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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Caribbean News
NEW YORK - The diplomatic center of the world New York sees hundreds of ambassadors attending the United Nations headquarters, but last week there was a different type of ambassador in town from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Sambala Boyd was the United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism's Ambassador and his primary function was to share the warmth of the Caribbean islands with his fellow New York residents. To make it even more notable "Ambassador" Boyd is actually a New Yorker originally from the USVI. He was appointed by the USVI tourism authorities for an unusual term - one week. But for a very big one - the Caribbean Tourism Organization's Caribbean Week in New York.
Boyd responded to a Department of Tourism social media essay contest on Facebook which asked U.S. Virgin Islanders living in New York what makes them great USVI Ambassadors and what it means to represent their hometown in North America.
Boyd, a talented singer, songwriter and model, nailed his ambassadorship with an inspiring essay. "I am obligated to share this extension of my culture - this belief that a smile, good morning, good day or good evening can warm hearts and yes even change lives. These are simple things to display to the world and New York, yet they are the strongest aspects of my Virgin Islands culture," Boyd penned. The youth envoy who believes that "a nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people" attended the Rhythms of the Caribbean Ball at The Plaza this month with special guest Dr. Anissa Moody, a New York area-based psychologist and fellow U.S. Virgin Islander. "It was a night to remember. The elegance, entertainment and education about the state of our Caribbean tourism industry was welcome. I thank the Department of Tourism for this amazing opportunity," recalled Boyd. USVI Commissioner of Tourism, Beverly Nicholson-Doty, thanked the young ambassador for his passion and encouraged nationals across the diaspora to continue recommending their homeland for a vacation experience. "We are thankful to Sambala and to our islanders all over the world - you are true ambassadors and are truly valuable to our tourism product and experience," she declared. During the week, Boyd - who is working on his debut album "Faith, Hope and Love", also attended the inaugural CaribbeanTales New York Film Showcase, which brought the curtain down on the 2011 edition of Caribbean Week in New York.
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