18
Caribbean Life, March 24-30, 2022
By Nelson A. King
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, One Brooklyn
Health (OBH) is seeking Caribbean and
other nurses to fill the void in nursing shortages.
Established to preserve and enhance health
care services in the communities of Central
Brooklyn, OBH comprises Interfaith Medical
Center, Brookdale Hospital Medical Center
and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, and
their affiliated facilities.
“Currently, OBH is seeking nurses for Interfaith
Medical Center, located at 1545 Atlantic
Ave. in the following areas: Emergency
Room,12-hour shifts, and ICU (Intensive Care
Unit),12-hour shifts,” said OBH in a statement
issued exclusively to Caribbean Life.
Prissana Alston, chief nursing officer at
Interfaith Medical Center, also told Caribbean
Life that “the healthcare workforce shortages
have led the recent headlines and behind the
headlines are narratives of resilience, courage
and perseverance.
“International nurses open staffing opportunities
to healthcare organizations in the
United States and the opportunity for nurses
seeking to challenge themselves personally
and professionally,” she said.
“As healthcare organizations continue to
strengthen and rebuild the human infrastructure,
Interfaith Medical Center (IMC) is
recruiting nurses to engage our community
in the Emergency Department, ‘the doors to
the hospital’ and the Intensive Care Unit,” she
continued. “We welcome our fellow nurses
to become partners with IMC’s healthcare
team.”
For more information, please contact: Galia
Al-Amiri, client account manager, O’Grady
Peyton International (USA), Inc., an AMN
Healthcare company; direct: 800-929-2198;
internal ext. 8174; 100 Bull St., Suite 302,
Savannah, GA 31401, U.S.A.; Galia.Al-Amiri@
ogradypeyton.com
By Nelson A. King
The Executive Secretary of the Economic
Commission for Latin America and the
Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena, says
that ‘inequality conspires against recovery
and development’ in the region amid the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“Inequality conspires against recovery,
against development, nutrition, health,
education, employment, poverty reduction,
against everything. That is why we must
address all of its facets,” said Bárcena in
delivering on Thursday the keynote address
at the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) Regional Office
for Latin America and the Caribbean in
Santiago, Chile.
Speaking on the topic, “Latin America
and the Caribbean’s socioeconomic context
and challenges”, the ECLAC chief gave an
overview of the region’s economic, social
and environmental state after the crisis
stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic,
along with its prospects for recovery.
Bárcena emphasized that “it is not
enough to grow to support equality; first,
we must become more equal to grow.
“We cannot grow without equality,
because inequality is inefficient,” she said.
“The pandemic increased poverty, unemployment
and informality, affecting women
especially.
“In our region, the factory of inequality
lies in productive heterogeneity, structural
gaps, low innovation, investment and productivity,”
she added. “Inequality defines
the region, it is unjust, inefficient, and
it conspires against sustainable development.”
Bárcena said this is reflected primarily in
the levels of poverty and extreme poverty,
which, in 2020, rose for a sixth straight
year.
In 2021, despite the recovery, she said
a 27-year setback is projected with an
increase in extreme poverty (to 86 million
people) and the risk of hunger
Bárcena noted that the crisis unleashed
by the pandemic intensified global asymmetries
between developed countries and
developing nations.
By Nelson A. King
Caribbean American Justice Lisa S. Ottley
says she is one of two judges presiding over
Article 81 matters on guardianship cases in
Kings Country (Brooklyn) Supreme Court.
Guardianship proceedings are commenced
when there is an allegation that
someone needs a guardian to be appointed
over the person, property or both of an individual
who is alleged to be incapacitated.
“During the pandemic the biggest challenge
was being able to assess the individual
who is alleged to be incapacitated due to the
isolating aspect of the pandemic,” Justice
Ottley, whose late father, George Ottley,
hailed from Trinidad & Tobago, told Caribbean
Life.
“When a proceeding for the appointment
of a guardian is commenced, the alleged
incapacitated person is appointed counsel
to represent the rights of the alleged incapacitated
person, as well as a court evaluator,
who is basically the eyes and ears of the
court, who will submit a report with findings
and recommendations,” she added.
“This, no doubt, was a challenge, because
hospitals were not allowing people to visit
patients, and nursing homes were following
the same protocol,” Justice Ottley continued.
“In addition, it was difficult to have access to
the alleged incapacitated person if there was
no internet access.
“However, the commitment that the attorneys,
my staff and those dedicated to protecting
the rights of those who were not able to
do, allowed us to push through and figure
out ways to assist with getting access via the
phone, Skype, Zoom and Teams to allow the
court to make a determination,” she said.
Currently, Justice Ottley said the process
and COVID-19 protocol remain in place.
She said hearings continue to move forward
and visits to the alleged incapacitated
person, as well as those who have been
deemed incapacitated, are hybrid.
Justice Ottley said the majority of the
cases that she presides over are done via
Microsoft Teams.
However, she said, when necessary, hearings
can, and do, take place in person in a
courtroom that is outfitted with plexiglass.
Justice Ottley said her entire staff is dedicated
to getting the work done.
She said Lola Waterman, her law clerk,
conferences cases on a daily basis, and her
secretary, Chanel Lewis, is “busy scheduling
conferences, hearings and making sure the
attorneys receive the Microsoft Teams Link
for calendared cases.”
Justice Ottley also said her part time clerk,
Melissa Coleman, ensures that the decisions
and orders are properly input into the system,
“which allows access to the court’s decisions
that are also sent out via email to all
parties to proceedings and lawsuits.”
“Being efficient, effective and working as a
team have enabled me to move the calendar
and settle cases,” said Justice Ottley, who
was elected to the Civil Court in 2008 and,
two years later, was appointed Supervising
Judge.
Prior to her appointment as Acting Justice
of the Supreme Court, she presided
over cases in both Civil and Family Court in
Kings County.
As supervising judge of the Civil Court,
Kings County, she presided over the Trial
Assignment Part in Civil Court.
Justice Ottley is the first African-American
judge to be appointed as supervising
judge of the Civil Court in Kings County.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, she credits
her parents, George Ottley and Minnie Ottley,
a native of Greenville, SC with raising
her to be “independent, strong-willed and
determined.”
Justice Ottley said her father, a merchant
seaman, traveled and spoke four languages
(self-taught): French, Spanish, English and
Portuguese.
She said he met her mother while traveling,
and was “instrumental in making sure that
his children traveled and experienced different
cultures, customs and food.
“He and my mother loved to entertain,
and welcomed many people into their home,”
Justice Ottley said. “I, like my father, am a
people-person and get fulfillment from helping
others.
“I am the youngest girl of eight children,”
she added. “My oldest sister just celebrated
her 80th birthday.”
Justice Ottley said that, at an early age,
she knew that she wanted to pursue a career
in law.
She attended James Madison High School
and was enrolled in the law program as an
honor student. She is a graduate of City College’s
specialized program in Urban Legal
Studies.
Afterwards, Justice Ottley said she attended
Hunter College to pursue a Master’s
degree in urban affairs-economic development,
and received the Robert C. Weaver
Scholarship.
Judge Lisa Ottley. Judge Lisa Ottley
Prissana Alston, chief nursing officer,
Interfaith Medical Center, EdD, RN,
NEA-BC. Ben Browne
Justice Lisa Ottley presides over guardianship
cases in Kings County Supreme Court
‘Inequality conspires against recovery and development’ in the Caribbean: ECLAC chief
One Brooklyn
Health seeks
nurses amid
COVID-19 crisis
/ogradypeyton.com
