By Tangerine Clarke
Barbara Atherly, consul general
of Guyana to New York, on
Oct. 18, received a star-studded
virtual Zoom farewell and
end of tenure celebration, filled
with touching, treasured memories,
and celebrated with a
viewing audience of more than
200 from across the globe.
The diplomat, during the
occasion of praise, was described
as a dynamic and ubiquitous
presence in the diaspora, who
brought Guyanese together in
unity over the last four years,
and honored with a Citation
from Congresswoman Yvette
D. Clarke.
“It is truly an honor, a privilege,
and pleasure to join in
expressing our sincere gratitude
to Barbara Atherly for her
4 years of dedicated leadership
and service to the Guyanese
community and the overall
Caribbean community, by
extension, said the New York
representative, 9th Congressional
District.”
“During her tenure in the
NY consulate, in addition to
meeting the needs and addressing
the concerns of Guyanese
nations, she has been a leader
among leaders, evidenced by
her service as a former chair of
the Caribbean Consular Corp,
working with her colleagues
to do likewise for Caribbean
nationals throughout the Caribbean
Friendly VOICES, a New Volunteer Program, Helps Limit
Social Isolation Among Older New Yorkers during COVID-19
Caribbean L 24 ife, Oct. 30-Nov. 5, 2020
diaspora,” said Clarke.
Clarke called CG Atherly a
consummate diplomat who
had a distinguished career as
an international public servant
with the United Nations Children’s
fund for 20 years.
“She has been a model consul
general and has set a shining
example for others to emulate.
We were blessed to have
been the beneficiaries,” said
Clarke.
Against the backdrop of
Guyana’s Golden Arrowhead
flag, and patriotic renditions,
Senator Roxanne J. Persaud,
congratulated CG Atherly for
a job well done, and honored
her with a State Proclamation,
on behalf of herself, Assemblywoman
Alicia Hyndman, and
Sen. Brian A Benjamin.
“Thank you for the professionalism
you have always
shown in your capacity as consul
general of Guyana in New
York, I look forward to us continuing
a relationship that we
have had over the years.”
CG Atherly, called a trailblazer
and phenomenal woman
whose commitment to service
and passion for excellence
reinvigorated the community
in New York and beyond, was
praised by Guyana’s Ambassador
to the US, Riyad Insanally.
“Your dedication to service
was demonstrated by your continuous
and infallible efforts
to attend to the needs of our
nationals, and to advance their
cause to be repatriated,” he
concluded.
Permanent Representative of
Guyana to the UN, Ambassador
Rudolph M. Ten-Pow, enjoyed
the excellent national events
he celebrated together with CG
Atherly.
“I admired how you served,
Consul General Barbara Atherly with Congresswoman,
Yvette D. Clarke at a 2019 Black Caucus at the State Capital
building in Albany. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
and managed to stay composed,
never losing your cool”, he said,
recalling the many years of
experience she had at the UN
serving in Syria, Mozambique,
Indian, and Afghanistan, and
how you put all that experience
in the disposal and served
with dedication, professionalism,
and love for your country,”
said Ten-Pow. “I am proud to
have been your friend and colleague.”
Barbados Consul General
to NY and Chairman of the
Consular Corp. O. Mackie
Holder, described CG Atherly
as informed, introspective,
accomplished, amicable
and esteemed, noting she was
devoted to the CARICOM Consular
Corp.
Local politicians bid Guyana’s
consul general farewell
It has been more than seven
months since the Covid-19
pandemic began and our
everyday lives were turned
upside down. While some have
grown accustomed to working
remotely and staying home,
the pandemic has led to many
older New Yorkers losing contact
with loved ones and becoming
socially isolated.
Social isolation has always
been an issue for older adults,
but COVID-19 has exacerbated
it. For older adults, social
isolation can be especially
harmful, taking a toll on their
wellbeing and leading to health
problems like depression and
heart disease.
Throughout this pandemic,
the City Department for
the Aging (DFTA) has been
working to limit social isolation
through virtual programming,
wellness checks and the Friendly
Visiting program, a successful
initiative that has matched
more than 2,000 volunteers
with homebound older adults
for weekly visits that are now
being done virtually via phone
and video calls.
In June, we ran a Social
Isolation PSA campaign and
more than 400 New Yorkers
signed up to volunteer for
Friendly Visiting. This told us
that New Yorkers want to stepup,
volunteer, and help our
older adults. Well, we heard the
City loud and clear, and we are
happy to announce the launch
of Friendly VOICES (Virtual
Opportunities Improving
Connections with Elders).
Like Friendly Visiting, this new
initiative will train and match
volunteers with older adults and
is designed to limit social isolation
and build ongoing engagement.
Friendly VOICES is different
as the program is available to
all older adults who are socially
isolated. In addition, Friendly
VOICES offers older New Yorkers
the option to have a peer-to-peer
match and be connected with
another older adult or join a
small virtual group. Becoming a
Friendly VOICES volunteer is an
easy way to brighten your day. We
recommend that anyone wlling
to volunteer or join the program
reach out to us.
I also want to remind older
adults to get the Flu Vaccine.
Doctors say getting a flu vaccine
this year has never been more
important. The flu vaccine does
not prevent COVID-19. But by
preventing the flu and having
a healthy immune system,
a person will have an easier
time fighting off a COVID-19
infection. The City Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene
has a locator map to help
you find the nearest vaccine
location. There are also outdoor
flu vaccination pop-up events
throughout the city this season.
There are also two other
vaccinations that can keep older
adults healthy: the pneumonia
vaccine and the shingles vaccine.
The CDC recommends all
adults 65 years or older get
a pneumonia vaccine yearly;
some older adults with specific
conditions may require a second
shot at another time. Shingles,
which is caused by the same
virus that causes chicken pox,
produces a painful rash and
blisters that can lead to serious
complications. Adults age 50 and
older need to get 2 doses of the
vaccine, the second dose two to
six months after the first.
This pandemic has lasted
longer than any of us expected.
But we will get through this, by
staying emotionally, mentally
and physically healthy, and by
staying connected.
If you would like to volunteer
for Friendly VOICES, call Aging
Connect at 212-Aging-NYC
(212-244-6469), or fill out an
online volunteer interest form.
Older Adults who wish to join
the program can also call Aging
Connect or fill out an online
participant form.
NYC Department for the
Aging Commissioner
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
New Friendly VOICES program matches volunteers with older
adults to connect on a weekly basis over the phone or video calls
and help relieve social isolation.