It was a spectacular evening that commenced with impressive video presentations featuring all of the honorees as well as images of passed CGID award ceremonies and the Democracy Prize presentation to the 2003 Winner, The Rt. Hon Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and the 2004 Winner The Right Hon. Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados. Every guess seated in the vast Tiara Room of the El Caribe had an opportunity to be front and centre of the proceedings, aided by huge television screens that were situated at the two extremes of the hall. Vocalist Simona Mills set the tone for the evening with a moving rendition of the "The Star Spangled Banner," followed by a classical performance of the Vincentian national anthem by Ms. Earlene King's.

CGID President Rickford Burke electrified the audience with his welcoming address and fulsome introduction of Prime Minister Gonsalves. But it was not until he got to introducing Leader of the British House of Lords, Baroness Valerie Amos that the crowd erupted into a boisterous, sustained standing ovation. This moment of excitement and applause ballyhoo motivated the CGID President to tout her Guyanese heritage, telling the high ranking British Cabinet member "we in the Diaspora are proud of your accomplishments."

Burke also elaborated on the genesis of the Institute which was founded in 2000 as the Guyana Institute for Democracy. He said thereafter nationals from other CARICOM countries became members because they were excited about the work of the organization and wanted to be identified with its mission and agenda. "Consequently, in 2004 the membership determined that the name of the organization should be changed to reflect the diversity of the membership and the regional scope of the agenda," Burke said.

The CGID President said the "The Prize" is an illustrious award that celebrates the outstanding contribution of Caribbean nationals, or others, to the human, economic, social and political development of a nation and the Caribbean Region. It was established by CGID in 2003, to honor eminent leaders who, through good governance, demonstrate a genuine appreciation for and recognition of the vitality of democracy to the development of free, open and prosperous societies in the Caribbean. Burke emphasized that the Institute's ultimate goal is to develop The Prize into a coveted, internationally respected award and urged the Diaspora to recognize its significance. It is an indigenous award of merit that was conceptualized and established by the Caribbean Diaspora. It is an original idea with its genesis in our Caribbean pride and ideology that is now part of the emerging Caribbean identity."

The highlight of the ceremony was the Keynote address by the dynamic, Guyanese born Leader of the British House of Lords, the Right Honorable Baroness Valerie Amos. One analyst described the oration by the first black female minister of the British Cabinet as a "brilliantly, stimulating speech which had both an enlightening and awakening effect on the Diaspora. It will be no doubt studied and dissected for maximum benefit in policy formulation, academia and political analysis, both regionally and internationally.

Caricom Secretary General, Dr. Edwin Carrington, who was billed to deliver the opening remarks was absent and said to be attending to urgent, pressing matters in the region. He was represented by Ms. Fay Housty, a high ranking Caricom official. In a statement to mark the CGID celebration, Carrington said "The Caribbean Community has opened the year 2006 with auspicious and historic achievements - key amongst them the official inauguration of the CSME. It is thus befitting that this year, at the invitation of the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy; we celebrate one of the most dynamic of a new generation of Caribbean leaders - the Honorable Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. Prime Minister Gonsalves' eloquent and principled guidance of his country's but also of the Region's quest for equitable human, social, economic and of course political development has been and continues to be a source of inspiration and pride. It is thus my great honor and pleasure as Secretary General of the Caribbean Community to salute Dr. Gonsalves on the receipt of the prestigious Democracy Prize of the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy. We are proud to call you one of our own," Carrington added.

A large number of NYS elected officials, government and trade union officials, business owners, members of the diplomatic corps and community leaders could not resist the elaborate celebration. Among the elected officials were NYS senators John Sampson, Carl Andrews and Kevin Parker, NYS Assemblyman Nick Perry, NYC Councilmemeber Kendall Stewart, NJ's Union county Councilmemeber Adrian Mac, NYS Supreme Court Justice Sylvia Hinds Radix and NYS civil court Judge Sylvia Ashe. Members of the diplomatic corps included Mr. Ellsworth John Ambassador of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the US, Ms. Margaret Hughes Ferrari Ambassador and Permanent representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the UN, deputy permanent representative to the UN Mr. Cosmos Cozier, Counsel General of ST. Vincent and the Grenadines to NY , Counsel General of ST. Vincent and the Grenadines to Toronto, Ms. Jessica Odel Consul General of Barbados to NY, Dr. Harold Robinson Consul General of Trinidad and Tobago to NY, former UN ambassador Joel Tony, former OECS ambassador Laurine Fenton and the Haitian Counsel General.

Other distinguished honorees included New York State Supreme Court Justice, Sylvia Hinds Radix, who copped the Crystal lifetime achievement award, Chair of the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and head of the Barbados HIV/AIDS Commission, Dr Carol Jacobs, recipient of the International Crystal Public Health award who was represented by Counsel General of Barbados, Jessica Odel, New York City Councilmemeber, Kendall Stewart, who was awarded the Crystal Leadership Award, Senior Vice President of Coca Cola Company, Ingrid Saunders Jones, who walked away with the Cooperate Crystal Business Leader of the year award, and President of York College, Marcia Keizs, Distinguished Educator of the Year.

Community leaders in attendance included: Guyana's former Minister of Health, Dr. Noel Blackman, President of the Caribbean Chambers of Commerce Dr. Roy Hastick, Executive Vice President of 1199 union Ms. Norma Amsterdam, and president of Local 420 Union Ms. Carmen Charles also attended. Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalve and Baroness Valerie Amos were presented with proclamation by US senator Charles Schumer, US congressman Major Owens and Gregory Meeks, California congresswoman Barbara Lee, Brooklyn Borough president …Markowitz as well as the NYC senate and City council. Also in attendance was a delegation from Guyana which comprised businessman Peter Ramsoroop, international business consultant Eric Phillips and PRO of ACDA Violet Baptist.