By Nelson A. King
Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud (D-Canarsie,
East New York, Brownsville, Mill
Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach,
Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island,
Georgetown, Ocean Hill, and Starrett
City) and the Senate Democratic Majority
this week will advance legislation to
boost small businesses across the state
and help grow New York’s economy.
Persaud, the Guyanese-born representative
for the 19th Senatorial District,
said small businesses are often
unable to get the necessary funds to
grow and remain unaware of state
assistance that is available to them.
She said the legislation being
advanced by the Senate Majority will
help small businesses by closing the
information gap and improving small
businesses’ access to state capital
assistance.
Additionally, Persaud said these bills
will create crime prevention services for
small businesses and increase reporting
on potentially negative effects new
rules and regulations may have on
small businesses across New York.
“In New York, we support New Yorkers
and their pursuit to start their own
business,” she said. “This week, my
colleagues and I are passing legislation
that will aid current and future small
businesses to ensure that they have
the necessary support and resources to
grow and prosper.
“I am proud to support these measures,
and thank my colleagues for their
continued investment in reassuring
our small businesses succeed,” she
added.
The legislation being advanced by
the Senate Majority includes: Small
Business Regional Revolving Fund that
allows the fund to be used for new loans
for microenterprises and refinancing of
existing loans; Small Business Assistance
Programs List that directs Empire
State Development to compile and
maintain a list of small business assistance
programs and have it available
on their website; Department of State
Confirmation Receipts that requires
the Department of State to send confirmation
receipts by mail and email, as
well as include contact information of
relevant regional offices and resources
available to support and assist new
businesses; and the Small Business
Crime Prevention Services that establishes
the small business crime prevention
services program to provide small
businesses with resources to prevent
crimes affecting small businesses.
Additionally, the Small Business
Crime Prevention Services bill authorizes
Empire State Development to provide
loans to small business municipalities,
not-for-profit corporations
or other organizations for preventing
crimes against small businesses.
Caribbean Life, March 13-19, 2020 3
A section of the attendees at the fund raising Prayer Breakfast. Photo by Nelson A. King
Prayer Breakfast to aid
Vincentian health institutions
By Nelson A. King
The Fellowship Hall at Miracle Temple
Ministries in Brownsville, Brooklyn
was packed to capacity Saturday morning
as the United Vincie Cultural Group
of Brooklyn (UVCGB) hosted another
very successful, fund-raising Prayer
Breakfast to aid health institutions in
St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“According to the reviews from most
of our patrons, this year’s Prayer Breakfast
was by far the best,” said Dr. Roxie
Irish-Morris, UVCGB long-standing
president and a Youth Minister at Miracle
Temple Ministries, an evangelical
church, where a number of UVCGB
members worship, in a Caribbean Life
interview.
“The ‘Word’ delivered by Pastor Cornelius
Olive was challenging, inspiring,
encouraging and uplifting,” added Dr.
Irish-Morris, a former national netball
star in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In his message, Pastor Olive, 70,
the Vincentian-born pastor at Trinity
Apostolic Church on Pacific Street
in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, preached
that “nothing is too hard for God to do.
“There’s nothing impossible with this
God,” he stressed. “And nobody can stop
this God. If God is for you, no one can
be against you.
“Nothing by any means can hurt you
when you put your trust in the living
God,” Pastor Olive added. “God goes
beyond whatever you’ve accumulated in
this life. My God can do anything.”
In his remarks, Howie Prince, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines consul general
to the United States, asked patrons
to “pray for people, even though you
don’t like them.
“Pray for Donald Trump (US President),
even though you don’t like him,”
he urged. “Pray for Ralph Gonsalves,
your (St. Vincent and the Grenadines)
prime minister.”
Prince’s remarks evoked high praise
from Dr. Irish-Morris and Pastor Olive,
complimenting him for what they
described as his religious calling.
A series of prayers that followed,
by several intercessors, “touched the
hearts of many of our patrons,” Dr.
Irish-Morris said.
The intercessors prayed for, among
other things, St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
UVCGB, married couples, school
teachers, the youth and children.
“The time of ministry to the needs
of those who came forward for special
prayer was truly remarkable,” Dr. Irish-
Morris said.
Between the prayers and singing,
patrons feasted on mouth-watering
Caribbean delicacies, such as boiled
banana and white and yellow yam; fried
bakes (dumplings); saltfish, mackerel;
and liver.
“The food was delectable and the
fellowship, which ushered in God’s
presence, created great camaraderie
amongst everyone in attendance,” Dr.
Irish-Morris said.
“Special thanks to the clergy for
ministering; participants on the program
for your unique gifts and talents;
patrons for their faithful support; workers
for their attention to details; and
members of UVCGB for your continued
sacrifice,” she added. “We remain
‘Blessed to be a blessing’ (echoing the
group’s motto).”
Besides its annual Prayer Breakfast,
UVCGB holds, among other things, a
Christmas Serenade, a major cultural
concert and a Tea Party, in raising
funds to assist medical facilities, with
supplies, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The next Tea Party will be held on
May 2 at Trinity Apostolic Church and
the cultural concert in early September
at Meyer Levin Intermediate School at
the corner of Ralph Avenue and Beverley
Road in Brooklyn.
The Christmas Serenade is held
either at Miracle Temple Ministries or
at the Friends of Crown Heights Educational
Center on the Saturday after
Thanksgiving Day.
Among other UVCGB goals is the promotion
of Vincentian culture in North
America and other places through folk
songs, chorale speeches, skits, storytelling,
plays, poems and dances, Dr. Irish-
Morris said.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consul
General to the US, Howie Prince
addresses Prayer Breakfast.
Photo by Nelson A. King
Persaud
boosts NY
small business