New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie. Offi ce of the Speaker of New
York Assembly
Caribbean Life, AUGUST 6-12, 2021 3
By Nelson A. King
The Brooklyn Democratic Party
recently hosted a Blue Victory Soiree to
honor the city’s frontline workers and
healthcare heroes while celebrating the
election of diverse Democratic nominees
from across the borough.
“Tonight, we are celebrating our Democratic
victory and unity,” said Brooklyn
Democratic Party Chair, Rodneyse
Bichotte-Hermelyn.
“We have elected an unprecedented
number of diverse Democratic nominees,
who are young Democrats, first-generation
immigrants, LGBTQ+ New Yorkers,
progressives, and Democrats of all shades
of blue. And, for the first time ever, New
York City is poised to welcome a female
majority at City Hall,” added the daughter
of Haitian immigrants, who represents
the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn.
Hermlyn Bichotte highlighted the historic
victory of three citywide Democratic
nominees from Brooklyn: Brad Lander
for Comptroller, Jumaane Williams for
Public Advocate and Eric Adams for
Mayor.
“As we celebrate our many victories
this year, none is more special than Eric
Adams,” said Bichotte-Hermelyn . “New
York City has elected not only the most
qualified Democratic candidate, but a
real blue-collar New Yorker. Through
this victory we welcome a generation of
diversity.”
Adams also praised the Brooklyn
Democratic Party during a rousing
speech, thanking them for helping to
unite Brooklyn.
Other speakers included Mayor Bill
de Blasio and Attorney General Letitia
James.
“Tonight, we are here to honor our
COVID-19 heroes. Our health care workers,
and laborers, who served our city as
first responders and essential workers
during the dark days of the pandemic,”
said Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn.
COVID-19 hero honorees at the event
included the New York State Nurses Association,
Public Employees Federation,
1199SEIU, District Council 37, Public
Employees Federation and Home Healthcare
Workers of America.
By Nelson A. King
As the widow of the assassinated Haitian
president hinted that she may contest
forthcoming presidential elections, a
Haitian American legislator in Brooklyn is
calling for “free and fair” presidential elections
in the French-speaking Caribbean
country.
“Martine Moïse, the wife of Haiti’s assassinated
president, Jovenel Moïse, has indicated
in interviews that she is seriously
considering a run for the presidency. While
I cannot predict the future, I do believe the
Haitian people deserve a free and fair presidential
election, which will be a critical step
toward restoring prosperity, stability and
the rule of law,” Council Member Farah
N. Louis, who is also the president of the
National Haitian American Elected Officials
Network (NHAEON) New York Chapter,
told Caribbean Life on Wednesday.
“The United States should work to help
ensure that the Haitian people have the
right to decide their own future,” added
Louis, the daughter of Haitian immigrants,
who represents the 45th Council District
in Brooklyn.
In her first interview since her husband’s
assassination on July 7, Mrs. Moïse, 47, told
the New York Times, on July 30, that she
may consider contesting the presidential
elections.
“President Jovenel had a vision,” she
said, “and we Haitians are not going to let
that die.”
The Haitian police have detained a wide
array of people in connection with the killing,
including 18 Colombians and several
Haitians and Haitian Americans, and they
are still seeking others, according to the
Times.
It said the suspects include retired
Colombian commandos, a former judge, a
security equipment salesman, a mortgage
and insurance broker in Florida, and two
commanders of the president’s security
team.
Alluding to the Haitian police, the Times
said the elaborate plot revolves around a
63-year-old doctor and pastor, Christian
Emmanuel Sanon, who officials say conspired
to hire the Colombian mercenaries
to kill the president and seize political
power.
But the critics of the government’s explanation
say that none of the people named in
the investigation had the means to finance
the plot on their own, according to the
Times.
“And Mrs. Moïse, like many Haitians,
believes there must have been a mastermind
behind them, giving the orders and supplying
the money,” it said. “She wants to know
what happened to the 30 to 50 men who
were usually posted at her house whenever
her husband was at home.”
By Nelson A. King
A day after a blistering New York
State investigative report found that
Democratic Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had
fostered a culture of workplace misconduct
and had sexually harassed numerous
women, the Caribbean American
Speaker of the State Assembly says the
governor will be impeached.
“After our conference this afternoon
to discuss the Attorney General’s report
concerning sexual harassment allegations
against Gov. Cuomo, it is abundantly
clear to me that the governor
has lost the confidence of the Assembly
Democratic majority and that he can no
longer remain in office,” said Speaker
Carl Heastie, whose grandparents hailed
from the Bahamas, on Wednesday.
“Once we receive all relevant documents
and evidence from the Attorney
General, we will move expeditiously
and look to conclude our impeachment
investigation as quickly as possible,” he
added.
In the report, made public on Tuesday,
the investigators found that Cuomo’s
actions and those of the Executive
Chamber violated multiple state and
federal laws, as well as the Executive
Chamber’s own written policies.
Starting in December 2020, multiple
women came forward with allegations
that Cuomo sexually harassed them.
Additionally, New York Attorney General
Letitia James said the investigators
found that the Executive Chamber was
“rife with fear and intimidation” that
not only “enabled the above-described
instances of harassment to occur,” but
also “created a hostile work environment
overall.”
“Further, Gov. Cuomo, himself,
and the Executive Chamber engaged
in ‘retaliatory’ behavior by ‘intending
to discredit and disparage’ a former
employee that came forward with her
story of harassment,” James said.
She said the investigation found that
Cuomo’s sexual harassment of multiple
women and his and the Executive
Chamber’s retaliation against a former
employee for coming forward with her
claims of sexual harassment violated
multiple state and federal laws, including
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, the New York State Human
Rights Law, and 42 US Code § 1983,
in addition to the Executive Chamber’s
own equal employment policies.
Heastie said he has received the
Attorney General’s 168-page report containing
findings of sexual harassment
and misconduct committed by Gov.
Cuomo.
“The findings contained in the report
are disturbing,” he said. “The details
provided by the victims are gut-wrenching.
Our hearts go out to all the individuals
who have had to endure this
horrible experience.
“The conduct by the governor outlined
in this report would indicate
someone who is not fit for office,” added
Heastie, disclosing that the report has
been forwarded to the members of the
Judiciary Committee, as well as all
members of the Assembly.”
Democratic Mayoral nominee,
Eric Adams fl anked by New York
Attorney General, Letitia James
(right) and Brooklyn Democratic
Party Chair, Rodneyse Hermelyn
Bichotte. Brooklyn Democratic Party
Heastie: Cuomo will be impeached
Louis wants ‘free and fair’ elections in Haiti
B’lyn Dems
host Blue
Victory Soiree