By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 24, 2023 –The Bahamian-American Association, Inc.(BAAI) in New York has a new President following an election held last week. She is Mrs Mary J. Sweeting, who had been Chair of the Board of Directors.
Mrs. Sweeting, who is a renowned community leader, political consultant, public speaker and social justice activist, is the widow of the late William Sweeting, a native of Deep Creek Congo Town in South Andros, Bahamas. She has been recognised as “Woman of the Year” by Caribe News and “Grandmother of the Year” by Grandparents Around the World.”
BAAI has a rich history that was extensively chronicled by Bahamian journalist Felicity Darville in her FACE TO FACE column in The Tribune on Tuesday, April 6, 2021
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Darville noted that she “had the privilege of being invited to speak at a special forum hosted by the Bahamian American Association.”
“This 108-year-old organisation stands as a lighthouse for Bahamians in America, keeping them grounded in their Bahamian roots and providing a home for them to stay connected to each other,” Darville wrote.
Darville added: “On September 17, 1912, a constitution was drafted and byelaws were framed. The ten Bahamians who founded The Nassau Bahamas Association in New York City were Austin A Wilson, Rubin Clinton, Charles Sawyer, Bruce Roberts, Frank Russell, Robert Carey, Arthur Minnis, Edward Brown, Henson Styles and Willie White.
“In 1922, the membership was expanded to include women whose admission led to an immediate broadening of activities and programmes. The prominent women during those years were Georgie B Roberts, Augusta Hall, Victoria Hall, Susan Jolly and Ida Brennan.
“Later, descendants and spouses were invited to join and subsequently, honorary membership was extended to non-Bahamians.
“On July 6, 1939, the organisation was incorporated in New York State under the name of the ‘Nassau Bahamas Association, Inc.’. In 1946, the association purchased a building to serve as its headquarters, located at 211 West 137th Street, New York City. This was in one of the most prestigious and historic blocks of real estate in Harlem and the association still calls this building home today.
“Before long, a flourishing juvenile branch emerged. Many of these young people established themselves in well-placed positions in the Harlem community and beyond. During the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the association flourished as many Bahamians pursued a university education in New York”
Continuing, Darville noted that the 1980s and 90s “came with its share of challenges for the association, but the strong members held on.”
“On September 23, 2002, The Bahamian American Association, Inc (BAAI), an outgrowth of the Nassau Bahamas Association, was incorporated to acquire not-for-profit status under 501C3 and to address the present realities of the Bahamian American Community,” Darvile wrote. “It progressed to hosting events such as the Independence Gala Ball and the Scholarship Award Ceremonies.”
As the new President, Mrs. Sweeting replaces Andrew Albury, who had been BAAI’s President for eight years.
Mrs. Sweeting’s daughter, the Hon. J. Machelle Sweeting, is Acting Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, who was elected from the historic 10th Municipal Court District in Harlem, New York, and currently serves as an Acting Justice of the New York State Supreme Court.
“Judge Sweeting previously presided, for five years, in the New York County Family Court, over cases involving the most intimate disputes about child custody, visitation, guardianship and domestic violence. In addition, she presided over the nation’s first state-wide ‘Remote Access’ Court, that allowed litigants to appear before the court via video,” according to data gleaned from the Internet.
“Throughout her legal career, Judge Sweeting has remained steadfast in her commitment to ensuring that equality and justice remain at the forefront of our legal system,” the data notes. “Prior to ascending to the bench, she served with distinction as an Administrative Law Judge, a Special Referee, an Assistant Corporation Counsel, an Assistant District Attorney, a Law Clerk to a Supreme Court and Appellate Justice and as an Adjunct Law Professor. Judge Sweeting earned her law degree from Rutgers University School of Law in Newark New Jersey and received a Certificate of Legal Education from the Eugene Dupuch Law School in Nassau, Bahamas.”
It adds, “Judge Sweeting is the first and only legal practitioner admitted to practice law in New York State (including the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York), Washington DC, the United States Supreme Court, the 2nd and 4th Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.”
