The title below “PROMOTION ‘73” is the English translation of a message that originated from Ney J. Bélancourt in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on October 8th 2003. I find it relevant to CCH-FSCAA history. This introduction to his message is based on part of my personal recollection while attending Canado-Haitian College and being a member of that class of 1973. If any inaccuracy or omission is observed, I urge my fellow alumni from that era not to hesitate to point it out for review.

Circa 1970-1971, out of somewhere came up the idea that our class needed a president. As soon as this was verbalized, there was no scarcity of opinions - a few healthy debates here and there ensued. At some point, our highly regarded Prof. Wesner Emmanuel aka "Maître Manno" suggested our classmate Ney Bélancourt whose personality happened to be compatible with every one else’s. The fact that he was also blessed with superior communicating skills and a good heart facilitated the whole matter. That idea, I recall, was quickly supported by every soul in class. And the rest, as they say, was history. Ney, in addition to his natural brilliance, carried around an original sense of humor that made it fun to be in his general perimeter. I am not quite sure but I assume that having him as president increased the probability that we’d be exposed to his humor on a more consistent basis.

However, what we didn’t exactly know was that we were contributing to set in place the launching pad for such a thinker, leader, organizer and innovator. Moreover, along with his altruistic penchant, he’s always been passionate with the belief that there is always something, however small, that each person can do to improve the ambient environment to higher levels. He came up with many ideas on the table that, not only inspired others to emulate but also brought us together as a team to engage ourselves in different activities – intellectual, cultural, social etc. This was also an all-inclusive initiative in which students from outside Canado-Haitian College’s walls, at our level of study, were invited and encouraged to participate. Several did just that. I also remember extra-curricular activities such as our newspaper “l’Essor”, the talent presentations, the countryside outings etc. As a result, Ney made “Maître Manno” look like the genius that, we the students, already thought the professor was.

Based upon that segment of our past and after our being scattered all across planet Earth for over 30 years, Ney, had, once again, sounded off in 2003; this time inviting us to network, to get our eyes off ourselves just a little bit, look back and make a positive difference. From Port-au-Prince to New York, he communicated with our other former classmate who always shared those same beliefs: Dr. Karl D. Dormésy. Karl, now our outstanding CCH-FSCAA president, took it upon himself to initiate contacts and became the nucleus to propagate the word across the world literally - wherever Canado and Brothers of the Sacred Heart alumni and alumnae happen to find themselves. Out of that initiative, emerged our first alumni reunion in Westbury, NY - prior to our becoming a non-profit organization.

Ney, from out of town, visited us a few times along the process of our building the association here in New York - always willing to share his constructive opinions. During such moments I noticed, with great admiration, that to this day the no-nonsense Ney continues to be exemplary with his mental sharpness, personal courage and strength, his “esprit du beau” and his truth in caring.

In his message below, Ney references a time that is still fondly remembered by all of us who have evolved through it, particularly the period that extended from 1971 to 1973.

PROMOTION '73 (Click here)