NEW YORK, United States (CMC) — New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio has bestowed special honour on Dr Una Clarke, the first Caribbean-born woman to be ever elected to the City Council.

He also praised her Brooklyn-based Progressive Democrats Political Association (PDPA) at a gala ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the group that was founded by the Jamaican-born Clarke.

 “You did something powerful that will help everyone,” said the mayor, after reading part of a New York City Proclamation.

Prior to bestowing the honour, deBlasio described PDPA’s 25thanniversary as “extraordinary,” stating that the organisation has the ability to reach many.

“There was a time when many doubted PDPA,” he said. “I had the honour to serve as Yvette’s (Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke) campaign chair. So, I wanted to be here to celebrate, because everyone in this room has made a profound difference.

“And I must tell you, I wouldn’t be Mayor of New York City if it wasn’t for PDPA.  I want to congratulate PDPA.

New York State Assemblywoman Diana Richardson, representative for the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn and the daughter of Caribbean nationals, also dispatched a State citation to PDPA, read by PDPA St Vincentian-born president Veronica Phillips.

PDPA, in turn, honoured 14 community figures during the four-plus-hour-long gala celebration.

“We have come to celebrate our Silver Jubilee, our 25th year, as a strong political movement within Central Brooklyn,” said Dr Clarke, who hails from the parish of St Elizabeth.

“We honour those early pioneering members who had faith in the future of our central Brooklyn community. They were the bold ones who endorsed me for my first New York City Council campaign, thus laying a solid foundation upon which we have built a movement.”

She said PDPA has become “a strong political movement, which has conducted many successful campaigns, successfully electing not only our Congress Member the Honourable Yvette D Clarke but also other federal, state and city officials, including judges and community leaders.

“We have never intended to be a social club but a political organisation, so that our people can see their potential and understand their participation in the political process as full citizens of the United States. So, these 25 years have been a great and fruitful journey, and we look forward, with you the next able generation, to another 25 years of effective service.”

Haitian-born Brooklyn Councilman Dr Mathieu Eugene, representative for the 40th Council District, said he had no “clue about politics” until he met Dr Clarke.

“I joined PDPA because I wanted to be part of an organisation, where you can learn about politics,” said Eugene, the first Haitian to be elected to New York City Council. “It was first by the grace of God, then it was by the PDPA.”