Kick off your big plans with our
Home Equity Line of Credit and
a special fixed rate for the first year.
1.99% APR1 for the first year if you draw
10% or more of the loan at closing
3.25% APR2 Prime for life, thereafter
Or, 2.24% APR1 for the first year if you draw
less than 10% of the loan at closing
3.50% APR2 Prime plus 0.25% for life, thereafter on
loans with a CLTV greater than 65%
Perfect for debt consolidation, big purchases,
dream vacations and more! Apply online
or schedule a time to apply at your local branch.
www.ridgewoodbank.com | (866) 772-4111
Caribbean Life, A 22 UG. 27-SEPT. 2, 2021
Community members joined elected offi cials, including Senator Chuck
Schumer (middle) at a candlelight vigil for the Haitian earthquake victims.
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Queens leaders hold vigil for
victims of Haiti Earthquake
By Gabriele Holtermann
Queens community leaders, clergy
members and a host of elected officials
on Thursday, Aug. 19, held a candlelight
vigil outside the headquarters of Haitian
Americans United for
Progress, Inc. (HAUP) in
Queens Village for victims
of the devastating earthquake
in Haiti.
Eleven years after a
magnitude 7.0 temblor
devastated Haiti, killing
more than 200,000 people,
a 7.2 magnitude earthquake
struck the Caribbean
island on Saturday
morning, Aug. 14, causing
widespread destruction. As
of press time, the death
toll had climbed to nearly
2,200 and more than 9,000
Haitians have been injured, with tens of
thousands of Haitians left homeless.
Furthermore, on Tuesday, Aug. 17,
Tropical Depression Grace caused flooding
Queens Borough President
Donovan Richards.
Photo by Gabriele
in parts of the country, hampering
rescue efforts in the country that is also
reeling with the COVID-19 crisis.
The earthquake is the second catastrophe
for the island in just over a month
— in July, President Jovenel Moïse was
assassinated, leaving the country in
political turmoil.
Queens Borough President Donovan
Richards, whose office organized the
vigil, pointed to the resilience of the Haitian
people born out of their strong belief
in God- a sentiment that was shared by
speakers throughout the evening.
“The Haitian community is resilient.
They are more resilient than any other
community that I’ve ever met,” Richards
said. “When I went to Haiti, I remember
going into villages, going into a church.
The church had no roof, it was raining,
but the people of Haiti were still praying
to God.”
He assured the Haitian community
that they would get all the assistance
they need during this crisis. Richards
also emphasized that helping Haiti
shouldn’t mean taking over the country
and practicing colonialism.
“We know one of the
reasons Haiti continues
to suffer is because freedom
is not free,” he said.
“We need to ensure that
the assistance they get is
the assistance they get,
but there are no strings
attached. And as things
are rebuilt, that does not
mean coming in and gentrifying
Haiti as well. The
people of Haiti must control
their economy, their
government, and their
political destination.”
Richards stressed that
it was important to make sure that supplies
and donations were getting into the
right hands.
“There are organizations on the
ground doing the work. Follow those
organizations,” Richards urged. “They
should be Haitian-led organizations. Support
organizations with a track record of
doing work within Haiti, and not folks
who just sprung up overnight.”
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, who, as
senator from New York, represents the
largest Haitian diaspora in the world,
shared that he had already spoken with
President Biden asking for aid. He urged
not to repeat the mistakes of 2010 “when
Haiti had another tragedy, and no one
paid much attention.”
“But because of gatherings like this,
and people like you, great elected officials
here with me. We know that we will not
forget,” Schumer said.
Schumer also promised that he would
do anything in his power as Senate majority
leader and leave “no stone unturned”
to continue fighting for Temporary Protected
Status (TPS).
Holtermann
At This Rate, Imagine
What’s Possible.
1 1.99% APR (annual percentage rate) for the first year if you draw 10% or more of
the loan at closing, or 2.24% APR for the first year if you draw less than 10% of the
loan at closing, followed by a variable APR as low as Prime Rate. The introductory
APR is fixed for one year (twelve months). After the first year, the APR is determined
by Combined Loan to Value (CLTV) ratio. If CLTV is 65% or less, the rate is prime for
a primary or vacation home, prime plus 0.25% for an investment property. If CLTV
is greater than 65%, the rate is prime plus 0.25%. All rates can change monthly. The
maximum APR is 10.99%.
2 The Prime APR is variable based on the U.S. Prime Rate as published in the Wall
Street Journal, plus a margin (if applicable). The minimum floor APR is 3.25%. If
CLTV is 65% or less, the rate is prime for a primary or vacation home, prime plus
0.25% for an investment property. If CLTV is greater than 65%, the rate is prime
plus 0.25%. HELOCs are variable rate products and rates may not exceed the
maximum APR of 10.99%. The Prime Rate as of 6/01/2021 = 3.25%. Loan products
and services subject to credit approval. All loans secured by a mortgage/lien
on the property. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Rates
are effective as of 6/01/2021.
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