New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio proclaims
November 17 Dr. Roy Hastick Day
Guests and elected offi cials cut the ribbon to open CACCAI headquarters in Caton Flats, from left, a guest, Dr.
Una S.T. Clarke, Assembly Member Nick Perry, Jonell Doris, commissioner, NYC Department of Small Business
Services, Mathieu Eugene, Mayor Bill deBlasio in the back, Tamara Hastick-Evy, Camille Hastick, Rolanda Hastick,
Ranee Hastick and Eda Hastick sitting. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Caribbean Life, NOVEMBER 19-25, 2021 3
By Tangerine Clarke
Outgoing Mayor of the City of New
York, Bill DeBlasio, proclaimed Wednesday,
Nov. 17, Dr. Roy Hastick Day, and presented
a Proclamation to Camille Hastick,
daughter of the late iconic founder, and
president of the Caribbean American
Chamber of Commerce & Industry, (CACCAI),
during a ribbon-cutting ceremony
to open the headquarters, located in
Caton Flats, in Brooklyn.
Thanking his colleagues in government,
the private sector, clergy, community
leaders, and politicians, including Dr.
Una S. T. Clarke, and Assembly Member
Nick Perry for helping to realize CACCI’s
dream, the politician said this has been
long time coming, and a great initiative
that will bring economic empowerment,
and economic rights for everyone in the
community.
“It’s a shared value. We want to see
rights, not just civil rights, or freedom
rights, but economic empowerment, economic
rights for everyone. This center
is about producing for people and creating
jobs and generational wealth,” said
DeBlasio.
Stating that the city’s initiative to give
baby bonds to every kindergartener in
New York city by starting a college savings
account for each of them, DeBlasio
noted, he wants to break the pattern of
the past injustice that has pervaded. “We
are not talking about equality until we
talk about creating generational wealth
in this community,” he demanded.
He said the baby bonds program is on
one level, “but this extraordinary center
is very much a part of it, on another
level- creating jobs, and helping businesses
thrive. CACCAI, has been for years a
trailblazer of possibilities, building opportunities
in powerful ways, and now, have a
permanent home of this stature.”
“Caton Flats Market is going to be
amazing for this community on many
levels, but for CACCAI, it’s a fulfillment of
a vision,” said the mayor.
“This is a crowning achievement
moment. Mrs. Hastick, you should be
proud, you have kept that flame throughout.
I want to thank you, and the Hastick
family,” he said, before applauding them.
“This is also about the city coming
back,” he said, and quipped, that he was
pained by the naysayers who said, “our
best days were behind us. They have been
proven wrong. We are getting better every
day, but we must get more inclusive, to
make sure the wealth is shared better,
there has to be justice, and this is what
this place represents.”
“Roy Hastick is with us here today. He
would have loved this moment. I have
never known a man who has been so persistent.
He had a vision and he stuck to it,
he kept building and he brought people
along, and people believed, the beauty of
his vision, and his energy, his heart came
through.”
“I miss him. I always felt hope in his
presence, and the generosity of his spirit.
We are going to remember him now as
this beautiful center comes to life,” said
the politician.
Emcee, Jonnel Doris, commissioner
of the NYC department of small business
services, said, “This is a historic and
exciting day, a legacy building day,” and
thanked many for making the opening
of the new headquarters for the Caribbean
American Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, special. The 14-story residential
tower with 254 units of affordable
housing was built by minority led
developers.
“Dr. Roy Hastick dedicated his life to
CACCAI. Just months ago, just outside
this building we celebrated the street conaming
for Dr. Roy Hastick. It was a great
occasion,” said Doris.
“Dr. Hastick was a rare individual, and
a powerful force in the Caribbean and
business community, a tireless advocate
for entrepreneurs, and a mentor to many
of us.”
The headquarters will provide, services
for business development and networking
opportunities for small business, free onsight
confidential small business counseling
and technical services, certification
and financial literacy programs, while
assisting to increase Caribbean-based
exports from the US, and vice versa.
Ambassador-elect, Assemblyman Nick
Perry, said “we are happy today, but we
regret we didn’t have the chance to celebrate
Dr. Hastick in what he dreamed of.
All his life’s work, all the efforts he made
to secure a permanent site for CACCI.”
“Sister Hastick, you have been blessed,
to survive and to see his achievement, his
handy work, all his brainpower, everything
he put into it, he was so dedicated.
We celebrate him as often as necessary.
“He worked hard, set his goal and
achieved most of it, and we are here to
carry on the work to make sure the Caribbean
community, our business people,
have a place to develop and to grow, and
spread the gospel, that your entrepreneurial
dreams can come true, and get
the resources CACCI provide,” said Perry.
Dr. Una Clarke, founder of the Flatbush
Caton Market, that also has a home
in the Caton Flats, said she is excited
and considered the day’s coming home.
“Roy and I were buddies who figured out,
what impact we as new immigrants could
make on America,” said Clarke.
“It is between Roy and I taking turns,
that we’re here today. I can’t sing enough
of his praises. The legacy lives on through
the lives of his wife and children. There
are always new beginnings. Thank you
for the sleepless nights, and the board of
directors who helped CACCI to grow. We
are continuing.”
Councilmember Mathieu Eugene, in
whose District 40 CACCAI is located,
recalled the headquarters was slated to be
built at the corner of Bedford and Church
avenues and despite setbacks, Dr. Hastick
continued to work hard, to realize his
dream.
Mayor Bill deBlasio at the podium,
after presenting a Proclamation to
Camille Hastick. Photo by Tangerine
Clarke
Dr. Una S.T. Clarke and Jonell Doris
against the backdrop of a picture
of Mayor Bill DeBlasio, late Dr. Roy
Hastick and his wife Dr. Eda Hastick.
Photo of Tangerine Clarke