By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn Sen. Zellnor Myrie said
on Tuesday that he, Assemblymember
Diana C. Richardson, members of Community
Board 9 and a host of volunteers
knocked on thousands of doors during
“Census Day of Action” on Saturday.
“We knocked on over 2,000 doors
this weekend for our Census Day of
Action,” said Myrie, representative for
the 20th Senatorial District in a message
to constituents, reminding them
that “the census is coming up in less
than two weeks.”
Myrie, whose grandmother hails
from Jamaica, said over 90 volunteers
went “door-to-door” in Brooklyn in
raising awareness about the Census.
He said 80 percent of Brooklynites
live in hard-to-count neighborhoods,
stating that Brooklyn has “one of the
lowest census participation rates in the
country.”
Richardson, the daughter of Aruban
and St. Martin immigrants, represents
the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn.
Her district juxtaposes Myrie’s in
Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
Following the recent launch of Gov.
Andrew M. Cuomo’s Census Council,
New York’s campaign to make sure
every New Yorker is counted in the
upcoming 2020 Census continued last
month with four conferences across
the state.
Cuomo’s office said that State officials
moderated panels in Buffalo,
Rochester, Syracuse and Long Island,
to inform counties and communitybased
organizations on how to apply
for available State funding, as well as
best practices to coordinate efforts and
resources to reach at-risk and hard-tocount
communities.
The conferences also focused on
leadership and messaging strategies to
implement, improving digital literacy
and opening up places for individuals
to fill their Census online.
“We are committing significant
resources to our efforts to get a complete
count because the 2020 Census is
critical to the future of our great state,”
Cuomo said. “At this critical time in the
history of this nation and this state, we
are going to get the job done and make
sure every New Yorker is counted and
represented.”
In January, the governor proposed
an additional $10 million in the FY
2021 budget, bringing the State’s total
committed resources up to $70 million,
“to ensure a fair and complete count of
every New Yorker in the census.”
The governor also established the
Census Council, which is co-chaired by
Martin Luther King III, Lucy Liu and
Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Caribbean Life, March 6-12, 2020 3
Some of the Guyanese honored, are pictured in the Yellow Room of Gracie Mansion after a lavish reception put
on by Mayor Bill deBlasio and First Lady, Chirlane McCray, to celebrate Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary. In no
particular order - Dr. Terrance Blackman, Dave Narine, Verna Walcott-White, Harold Miller, Roger Gary, Tony Singh,
Patricia Jordon-Langford, Dr. Dhanpaul Narine, Sherif Barker, Mohamed Hack, Menes de Groit, RKHTY, Aminta
Kilawan Narine, and Jonnel Doris. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
New York mayor celebrates
Guyana’s Republic day
By Michael Kevin Williams
Mayor of the City of New York, Bill
deBlasio, and First Lady Chirlane McCray,
welcomed Guyanese to Gracie Mansion, on
Feb. 27, for one of the most celebratory and
historic events, added to Guyana’s momentous
Golden Republic Jubilee in North
America, attended by a wide cross-section
of nationals.
Fifty expatriates, including this Journalist,
received Certificates of Recognition,
during a lavish 50@50 reception,
entertained by the impassioned Menes
de Groit Shanto Rhythms, and the energized
Adrian Dutchin whose “I am a Guyanese,”
track, lit up the prestigious building,
and got the Mayor and his wife on
their floor, hands waving in the air.
Pride, patriotism, and talent, was heard
in the spirited verses of Poet James Richmond,
who boasted of Guyana’s beauty
in Down the Essequibo River and exalted,
Guyana’s petroleum wealth, with Guyana
Oozing Oil. Michelle Cole-Wa and Ashvini
Persaud’s Green FAD (oil in Guyana)
ensembles also celebrated the nation’s
glory.
The Golden Arrowhead flag in the backdrop
was a fitting tribute to evening’s
celebration, the politician opened, with
“welcome home everybody” in reference to
Gracie Mansion being the people’s house.
“Guyana is strong and has proven that it
can do amazing things over half a century.
Are you feeling proud tonight,” called out
Mayor deBlasio, and reminded Guyanese
that the event was the first ever, in the
history of New York City that Guyana was
celebrating in Gracie Mansion, the official
residence.
“You have earned it. I know you are
commitment to your homeland, but I love
you because of your pride, and everything
you do to make New York City great,” he
said, and promised to send a thank you
note to Guyana for making the city better.
He thanked Guyana-born James Richmond,
a member of his Clergy Advisory
Council, for initiating the Jubilee celebration,
and quipped, “I have met many
Guyanese but I may have met one who is
super human. The first day, I met James
Richmond, I said whatever he is eating
for breakfast, I want that too,” he mused,
and echoed Richmond’s ‘obsession’ when
requesting a reception be held to honor
Guyana’s 50th Republic.
“This is a celebration of Guyana’s heritage,”
he said with confidence, adding
that some communities have been in
New York for centuries, but the Guyanese
community is now coming into its own,
and contributing more and more to New
York, whether, its culture, food, music, or
involvement in the democrat system, and
especially in the public service, he claimed,
thanking NYPD Officers for their service.
He said despite Guyanese are not one
of the most known communities in New
York, they are surely making their mark on
the City and “this 50th Anniversary is very
important for this reason. “New York is
starting to wakeup to another part of what
we truly are, this is a coming of age for
the Guyanese community, a moment so
well deserved,” adding, “when we decided
to have this event, it was the hope and
belief that it would educate people of all
backgrounds of just how special this community
is,” opined deBlasio.
First Lady Chirlane McCray told compatriots
that they are always welcomed
to visit Gracie Mansion, and asked them
to turn to tell each other, “I celebrate you
tonight”, before congratulating nationals
on Guyana’s milestone.
“Guyanese celebrate greatness, are you
ready for the next generation of Guyanese
in New York to change the world,” she
asked, to a resounding yes from the audience
at the packed event, that was introduced
by Rhonda Binda, and emceed by
President of the Guyana Unity Movement
(GUM), Sherif Fraser.
“Your city is proud of you and what you
bring to New York City, your swirl of Saris,
your Pepperpot, and your late night, Calypso,
and Chutney. We love the Guyanese
community that lifts people up no matter
what,” said First Lady McCray.
Mayor deBlasio thanked his wife for
sharing her passion and educating citizens
about mental health through NYC Thrive,
that is easily accessed to help family and
friends. He also called on nationals to be
counted at the upcoming Census.
Ambassador of Guyana to the United
States, Riyad Insanally, extended greeting
to Guyana on its 50th Republic Anniversary
in a prepared message, while Consul
General of Guyana to New York, Barbara
Atherly was acknowledged during the
evening filled with Guyanese pride and
patriotism.
Census
Day of
Action
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