COVID-19 didn’t stop kite maker New Yorkers 16 yrs
By Tangerine Clarke
Popular Guyanese kite making artist
Trevor Smith, has been at his favorite spot,
Regent and Camp Streets, in the capital
city of Georgetown, since March 15, to vend
his star-point creations that have kept him
busy for 40 years.
Smith told this reporter on Monday, that
because he experienced an early sell out
of kites in 2019, he decided to increase his
production to meet the demands he was
expecting in 2020. Unfortunately, the coronavirus
sidelined the artisan and left him
with three-quarter of the 1500 kites he had
hoped to sell back then.
However, Smith’s spirit was not daunted.
He said he embraced his energy, and noted
that he had to be in his normal place of
business, as such, in spite of the coronavirus
protocols, he came to his special spot in
March 2020, an action that helped him to
keep his sanity, but not make him a profit.
But alas, all was not lost for Smith, who
usually starts the process of kite-making a
year ahead. The astute businessman stored
the kites away in a safe place, and today,
supporters are flocking to pickup their
favorite star-point, to hoist in the sky over
the Easter weekend.
The vendor expressed his appreciation,
to buyers who have already purchased
approximately 200 kites. One donor alone
bought 100 kites to be gifted to underprivileged
children.
Caribbean L 14 ife, APRIL, 2-8, 2021
With Easter Monday on the horizon,
April 5, and despite COVID-19 mandates
in place, kite lovers will rush to get their
choice design on Holy Thursday, Good Friday
or even Easter Saturday, said Smith.
The designs are available in 18, 20, and
24 inches all reasonably priced, said Smith,
who insisted that he did not increase the
price of the kites, just because of the coronavirus
pandemic. “I don’t want to exploit
my customers, I want to keep them,” he
assured.
Featured in this publication in the past,
Smith had opined: “Kids that make kites
develop a higher intelligent quotient (IQ)
for mathematics.”
“It’s a process that begins with four
pieces of wood, and the more colorful the
kite, the better it sells. Blending light and
dark colors with a background that suits
the star-point design is very important,”
he. said.
There are other designs such as the box
kite, the singing engine and the bird kite,
but Smith specializes in the six-point flyer
that is completed with two loops at the top
to raise the kite and a tail to balance and
keep it in the air.
By Tangerine Clarke
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, March 29,
announced that as of April 6, New
Yorkers 16 years of age and older will
be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Which means, Caribbean nationals
throughout the borough will also
qualify for this phase of inoculation.
In a recent release, Cuomo said, “We
continue to kick vaccinations into overdrive
throughout the state by expanding
eligibility, establishing new vaccination
sites and opening up eligibility to
providers to reach new populations.”
“New York’s distribution network is
ready to handle an expected increase
in supply, and we’re excited to expand
eligibility even further as we move to
get through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nevertheless, limited supply from the
federal government means that New
Yorkers should remain patient.”
“If you are among those who become
eligible tomorrow, check New York
State’s Am I Eligible website to find
an appointment (if available) at a staterun
vaccination site near you, or call
1-833-NYS-4-VAX. VaccineFinder, a
website affiliated with the CDC and
Boston Children’s Hospital, can also
help eligible New Yorkers find vaccination
locations,” he stated.
Kite-maker Trevor Smith at his popular spot, Camp & Regent streets in
Georgetown, Guyana, with his star-point creations. Photo by Tangerine Clarke, fi le
and older eligible
for vaccination
New Yorkers:
Double Masking
Offers Even More
Protection Against
COVID-19
nyc.gov/health/coronavirus
/coronavirus
