Brooklyn street renamed in honor of late
Grenadian envoy Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus
Brooklyn Councilman, Dr. Mathieu Eugene, third from left, with family members, supporters and community leaders
at co-naming ceremony. Photo by Nelson A. King
Caribbean Life, J BQ une 21–27, 2019 3
By Nelson A. King
A street in Brooklyn has been conamed
in honor the late Grenada
Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr.
Lamuel Stanislaus.
In a grand celebration on Saturday,
New York City Councilman, Dr. Mathieu
Eugene, the Haitian-born representative
for the predominantly Caribbean
40th Council District in Brooklyn,
hosted the street co-naming for “Dr.
Lamuel A. Stanislaus Way” in his district,
at Rutland Road, between Flatbush
and Bedford Avenues.
“When I look at the audience and see
so many leaders that means Dr. Stanislaus
was an outstanding leader,” he told
the ceremony. “As an immigrant, I feel
very proud.
“I am proud to commend this street
Dr. Stanislaus Way,” he added.
US Congresswoman, Yvette D. Clarke,
the daughter of Jamaican immigrants,
who represents the 9th Congressional
district, said she, too, was very proud to
represent a district in which Dr. Stanislaus
lived and served.
“It is, indeed, an honor to rise in
tribute to the life and legacy of the late
Dr. Lamuel A. Stanislaus,” she said in
a letter read by her Brooklyn District
Manager Anita Taylor.
“Sir Lamuel A. Stanislaus’ life demonstrated
a love of God, humankind,
love of country, love of his birthplace
and its people, as well as the Caribbean
community at large,” Clarke added. “Dr.
Stanislaus was and will remain an inspiration
to us all.”
Former Brooklyn President Marty
Markowitz said: “No one had a better
command of the English language than
Dr. Stanislaus (applause).
“During the challenges of the 1970s
and 80s, he was the voice of the Caribbean
(in New York),” he added. “He was
truly a very, very special person.”
Dr. Roy A. Hastick, the Grenadian
born president and founder of the
Brooklyn-based Caribbean American
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(CACCI), said it was “an historic day for
the Stanislaus family.”
“Dr. Stanislaus was a legend; was a
father, a grand-father, a mentor; he was
a role model to may of us,” he said. “He
was a statesman. We must make sure
this neighborhood remains historic to
continue the legacy of Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus.”
Dr. Stanislaus’s eldest son, Lamuel,
Jr., said he was happy that the street
on Rutland Road was co-named in his
father’s memory.
“This block really means a lot to
all of us,” he said. “It’s a great block.
We’ve been here for over 60 years, and I
wouldn’t go to any place else.”
Lamuel, Jr.’s younger brother,
Eugene, who followed in his father’s
footsteps to become a dentist, said the
co-naming of the street is also “a tribute
to all the families of Rutland Road
who share his (Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus)
love of a strong family unit and contribution
to community.”
“Our family believes that Dr. Lamuel
Stanislaus will always represent ‘Rutland
Road Family Way’”, he said. “My
family is proud and humbled as our
father receives this prodigious tribute
today. I feel confident that he is illuminated
in glory and watching from a
higher authority.”
Derek Ventour, the Brooklyn-based,
Grenadian-born entertainment producer,
who was instrumental in Dr.
Lamuel Stanislaus receiving US Presidential
and Congressional recognitions,
at Clarke’s behest, told Caribbean
Life that he had approached Dr. Eugene
to host the co-naming of Rutland Road
in Dr. Lamuel’s honor.
“For everyone who attended the
unveiling ceremony, it was a blessing,”
Ventour said. “Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus
served as an inspiration to many for
the life he lived. I promise that I will
never forget his dedication, his service
and his friendship. It was my pleasure
to serve.”
Dr. Stanislaus died on Sept. 18, 2016
barely five months after he was recognized
by then United States President,
Barack Obama and US First Lady,
Michelle Obama, as “a part of our great
American story.” He was 95.
Dr. Stanislaus, who was knighted by
Queen Elizabeth II, died at a hospice in
Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn, where
he was taken to, from his Brooklyn
home.
Shortly after celebrating his 95th
birthday on April 22, 2016, Sir Lamuel
had told Caribbean Life that he was
“suffering with the ravages of cancer of
the prostrate and cancer of the bones.”
Dr. Eugene described Sir Lamuel
as “a respected leader and community
activist, whose remarkable career was
defined by his over 30 years of service
as a dentist and later his appointment
as a Permanent Representative of Grenada
to the United Nations.”
The councilman also noted that Dr.
Stanislaus “served honorably as Grenada’s
Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary Representative in the
United Nations from 1985-1990 and
again from 1998-2004.”
Between these two appointments,
he served as ambassador-at–large and
deputy permanent representative for
two years.
Born in Petite Martinique, Grenada’s
smallest sister isle — the larger is
Carriacou — Stanislaus was educated
at Grenada Boys’ Secondary School
(1933-1938) and Howard University in
Washington, D.C., where he received
his Bachelor of Science (summa cum
laude) degree in 1948, and the Doctor
of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in
1953.
He was engaged in the private practice
of dentistry in New York City for 32
years before taking up the UN appointments,
his family said.
Sir Lamuel also served for a year
as a vice-president of the UN General
Assembly, “during which he was
appointed to act for a month in the
absence of the president, receiving
highest commendation for the conduct
of the business of the General Assembly
for that month,” according to the Stanislaus
family.
The family also said another highlight
of Stanislaus’ tenure was “the
persuasive statement made before the
Decolonization Committee, which
resulted in the invitation to the then
Chief Minister of Montserrat to come to
the UN to plead his case for additional
help for his volcanic-ravaged island.”
The family, however, said Sir Lamuel’s
legacy to his country and to 11
other small Commonwealth countries
at the United Nations is what is known
as the “Small States Joint Office at
the UN, where the larger Commonwealth
States have given well-appointed
shared offices to smaller Commonwealth
States rent free for the past 25
years and counting.”