Guyana’s Consul General honors nationals lost to COVID-19
By Tangerine Clarke
Consul General of Guyana
to New York, Barbara Atherly,
was the first diplomat to create
a Facebook page to honor
countrymen and women in the
diaspora, lost to the COVID-19
disease.
The wall, emblazoned with
the logo of the Guyana Consulate,
and currently recording
over 70 Guyanese deaths, due
to the dreaded COVID-19 disease,
is devoted to the citizens,
thanks to CG Atherly who felt
it was important during this
period of social distancing.
In a statement issued to
Caribbean Life, the diplomat
said, “The creation of the Facebook
page devoted to Guyanese
who have died due to complications
from the coronavirus
was important in this
period of social distancing. The
benefits of a technologically
advanced world became apparent
because the page ‘Honoring
Guyanese lost to Coronavirus,’
facilitated an alternative
means of connecting persons
and groups, while being physically
far apart.”
“The tradition in Guyana is
for families to host a wake followed
by a funeral. During that
time, we take the opportunity
Caribbean L 6 ife, May 8-14, 2020
to emotionally support the
family of the deceased. Due to
the regulations in place to keep
us safe from the virus, fulfilling
these customs are not possible,”
she noted.
She went on to explain that,
the “Facebook page allows for
an alternative to remain supportive.
It demonstrates solidarity
within the Guyanese
community.”
“We can also recognize these
individuals, many of whom
would have displayed strong
patriotism throughout their
lifetime; it is an appropriate
way to honor them,” said CG
Atherly, who hopes that the
relevant families find comfort
in the condolences expressed,
and appreciates everyone that
reaches out to them once seeing
a post on the Facebook
page.
“During this period, we have
said goodbye to several prominent
Guyanese in the Diaspora.
We have approximately 78 precious
Guyanese souls who have
gone to the great beyond.”
“On behalf of myself and the
staff of the Consulate General
we express sincere sympathy to
everyone that may have experienced
a devastating loss during
this time,” concluded the diplomat,
whose staff continues
to post images of loved ones
lost to families, who use this
medium to grieve.
Some of the messages convey
thanks to the Guyana Consulate,
for the kind gesture,
while others say how appreciative
they are that their family
members are being remembered
in such an honorable
way.
Eric Joseph, said, “its a great
idea. Many Guyanese in the
New York City area are not
aware of how many of their fellow
citizens are dying.”
“It’s also a great way to pay
tribute to these individuals
since many are not funeralized
and died without family and
friends around.”
John Aaron said, It’s a tribute
to the lives lost, to those
left to grieve and to the many
gallant ones who either fought
and survived, and those on the
frontlines saving countless
other lives. One world.”
Illona Allen, says, this
page helps loved ones of the
deceased know that the community
cares and empathize
in these sad times. They may
have died without family and
friends being around, but we
will honor them openly for others
to express condolences to
their families.”
“I recommend this page
because it gives us an opportunity
to honor those whom we’ve
lost. I’m sure they all came to
the US seeking better opportunities
for themselves and their
families. While they may have
lost the battle to Covid-19, their
legacies live on. Condolences
to the grieving families and
the Guyanaese community at
large,” said D. Alison Chung.
“This is so nice to be able
to share thoughts about loved
ones lost to Covid-19, expressed,
Mickey Ballmick, while Paddy
Singh said, Let’s Honor our
fellow Guyanese who lost their
lives to coronavirus.”
Virtual memorial services
continue to give friends
and families an opportunity
to attend funerals, via media
platforms. Some prominent
Guyanese lost include, William
“Billy” Braithwaite, former
manager of the Guyana Airways
Corporation, North America,
Political Activist, Marvin
Pearce, Michael Gilkes, poet,
actor, playwright, director, literary
critic, and Imam Jadji
Zakir.
Jim Bacchus of Jim Bacchus
Travel, former Advertising
Manager at the National
Newspaper, Guyana Chronicle,
Leon Gaskin, Reverend Vibert
Rudolph Prescott, Educator
Quincy Cummings, Archbishop
Ingram Hodge, D’Lorice Banquet
Hall proprietor, Linden
Branche, and many others have
died from COVID-19.
Consul General of Guyana to
New York, Barbara Atherly.
Guyana Consulate
Making Sense of the Census
Thank Our
Nurses.
Fill Out
The Census.
By Julie Menin, Director of NYC
Census 2020
Every day at 7:00 pm, New York
City comes together to show our
thanks to the health care workers
caring for our neighbors as we fight
COVID-19. And from May 6 to May 12,
people across the country will be celebrating
these frontline workers during
National Nurses Week.
And right after we take the time
to cheer our frontline workers, we
can also do our part to support them
for years to come by taking the 2020
Census.
The census is how NYC gets the
funding we need for our hospitals,
health care, emergency services,
schools, housing, senior centers, and
countless other public programs for
the next ten years. And when more of
us are counted, we get more funding.
So to keep frontline healthcare
workers fully resourced — not just
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but for the next decade — every
New Yorker needs to be counted.
Luckily, it’s never been easier. You
can go online to my2020census.gov
or call 1-844-330-2020 right now and
answer 10 simple questions in just 5
minutes. Your information is 100%
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Nurses and essential workers are
counting on us now more than ever to
fill out the census. As you get ready to
make some noise tonight, take a few
moments to give back by making sure
your household is counted.
Let’s clap for our nurses today and
fill out the census to support them
into tomorrow.
“Making Sense of the Census” is a
weekly column from Julie Menin, Director
of NYC Census 2020. Every week
we will be publishing pieces from Julie
and guest authors laying out the facts
and answering tough questions about
this year’s census. Fill out the census
now at my2020census.gov.
/my2020census.gov
/my2020census.gov