Sometime Positive, Inc. Dance Company with Artistic Director, Michael Manswell on stage, at Brooklyn Borough
Hall Plaza. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
BQ Caribbean Life, July 5—July 11, 2019 3
By Nelson A. King
Family, friends, supporters and wellwishers
two Saturday’s ago celebrated
with Grenadian centenarian Judith
Radix her 103rd birthday.
Grenadian-born dentist Dr. Joseph
Radix, Ms. Radix’s nephew, and his
family hosted a grand birthday bash at
Dr. Radix’s residence in East Flatbush,
Brooklyn.
Some members of the judiciary and
legal profession also attended the party
for the “Birthday Girl” and to give
clear support to Dr. Radix’s wife, Justice
Sylvia Hinds-Radix, the Barbadianborn
Associate Justice, NYS Appellate
Division, Second Department.
Among them were Trinidadian-born
Justices Sylvia Ash, of Vincentian and
Grenadian parentage, and Wavney
Toussaint.
Dr. Radix told Caribbean Life that
he was “blessed” to have Ms. Radix
as his aunt and her attainment of the
significant milestone, stating that he
loves her “dearly.”
“She is no nonsense, yet very
compassionate,” he said. “She is a true
matriarch of this family and one who
leads by example.
“She will always offer her thoughts,
ideas and even implement them before
you accept them,” Dr. Radix added.
“For me, she contributes many years
of wisdom.”
He said his aunt, affectionately called
“Auntie Judith”, comes from a relatively
large family of eight children and is one
of three sisters who are still alive.
Her sister, Alethea (deceased), was
Dr. Radix’s mother. Laura Radix, who is
also deceased, was the mother of Hazel
Radix. Tina Radix, 96, still resides in
Grenada.
Ms. Radix’s other sister, Violet, 94,
was present at the birthday party, as
well as their cousin, Victoria Clouden,
98, and Ms. Radix’s sister-in-law, Beryl
Stanislaus, 94, widow of Dr. Lamuel
Stanislaus, after whom Rutland Road,
near Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, was
recently co-named.
By Tangerine Clarke
Brooklyn Borough President,
Eric L. Adams, gave the Caribbean
diaspora, an opportunity to “Embrace
Your Hyphen,” a phrase he coined to
encourage expatriates to celebrate both
their American and Caribbean cultures,
and in so doing, highlight their talents,
education, and togetherness for the
world to see.
The this end, the politician, hosted
the 14th Annual Caribbean Heritage
Month celebration on Thursday, June
27, and honored Trinidad & Tobago
costume designer Junior Andrews, for
being a visionary and multicultural
artist whose accomplishments and
body of work range from visual art and
carnival artistry, to design and cultural
productions.
Andrews won the West Indian
American Carnival Association Labor
Day Ole Mas Competition from 2015
to 2018, and the 2018 T&T Carnival
Individual Competition.
His program, Carnival Art Therapy
where he teaches seniors in Crown
Heights once week, to make costumes
while listening to Caribbean music and
reminiscing of days gone by, was also
applauded. He also teaches students
in Brownsville, and East New York his
artistic techniques.
Andrews, was applauded for the
exemplary leadership he has shown,
making a positive impact on the lives
of others.
Chair of the Caribbean-American
Heritage Committee, Hazra Ali, and
Consul General of Trinidad & Tobago,
in NY, André Laveau, presented the
citation.
The Cynthia Brown Franklin Award
Citation was presented, to Charles A.
Small, Esq. a Brooklyn attorney, for his
outstanding work in the community.
Chief Program Director Sandra
Chapman handed over the citation.
BP Adams, welcomed expats to a
Cultural Marketplace on the Columbus
Park Plaza to showcase the beauty of the
Caribbean. The countries were, Antigua
& Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana,
Haiti, Panama, St. Lucia, St. Vincent &
the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago.
An exhibition also showed the works of
self-taught artist, Tony Bennett-funded
art school graduate, Cheyenne Sookoo,
of Trinidad & Tobago.
A symposium titled: “From Brain
Drain to Brain Circulation, A role of
the Diaspora in Caribbean Development
Challenges,” began with welcome
remarks by Omyma David. PhD, a
special presentation by Shelly Worrell
under the theme “Census 2020 and the
Caribbean-American Community with
keynote address by Consul General of
Barbados in NY, Oral St. E. Mackie
Holder.
Additionally, guests were invited to
a Taste of Caribbean Cuisine with food
sampling from more than 25 restaurants
in Brooklyn.
The daylong celebration came to
a climax with pulsating rhythms by
the Higher Levin High School Steel
Orchestra, who revved up the audience,
with popular calypso tunes.
Xavier Strings — violinists
Janine and Janelle Xavier — put on
a spectacular performance skillfully
playing the instruments as they danced
with their audience to a medley of
favorite Caribbean songs.
Nandanie Iranian and Diane
Ramsaran of the Srijan Dance Center
of Queens, also treated the audience to
Bollywood style choreography.
Something Positive, Inc. Dance
Company led by Artistic Director,
Michael Manswell, in turn educated
spectators with “Caribbean Splendor:
A Sacred Tribute,” in a splendid
performance in word and dance, that
cemented the evening’s outstanding
tribute to the Caribbean.
Judith Radix (left), 103, with sister
Violet, 94. Photo by Nelson A. King
Brooklyn BP celebrates Caribbean
American Heritage Month
Grenadian
centenarian
celebrates
103rd birthday
Hazra Ali, chair of the Caribbean-
American Heritage Committee,
left, Charles A. Small, Esq. and
Chief Program Director of Brooklyn
Borough Hall, Sandra Chapman at
the 14th Annual Caribbean American
Heritage Celebration.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke