Assemblywoman Diana C. Richardson
addresses an audience at
the unveiling of Dr. Roy A. Hastick
Sr. Way, at the intersection of Caton
and Flatbush avenues, where
Caton Flats housing complex is
constructed. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
By Tangerine Clarke
“Our elders, and ancestors fought
very hard for unity in the black community
and unity across the Caribbean,”
said Assemblywoman of the
43rd District, Diana C. Richardson
while addressing the unveiling of the
Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr. Way renaming
ceremony to honor the late Grenadianborn
giant recently
“I understand that sacrifice, and I
understand that it is our job as the next
wave of leaders to carry that baton of
unification, not divisiveness. I will work
day in and day out, to ensure that our
people are held together and that we
prosper together, and Caton Flats will
help to make this a reality,” said Richardson,
as she remembered the incredible
commitment Dr. Hastick had made
towards realizing the housing complex
at the corner of Caton and Flatbush,
where the intersection was co-named,
Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr. Way.
She said words cannot express how
much she loves the Hastick family, and
quipped that she is an extended family
member, noting that she had a deep
relationship with Dr. Hastick, founder
of the Caribbean American Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, (CACCI).
“He was my friend, a mentor, but
most importantly, I loved Dr. Hastick
like a father, and he loved me like a
daughter. He took me under his wing
and showed me love. I have a mom in
Dr. Eda Hastick. I promise that nothing
but honor comes to the Hastick name,”
said Richardson, the current Chair of
the NYS Assembly Legislative Commission
on Government.
“What an amazing quality it is to
make everyone feel equally loved and
supported,” said the NYS Assembly
member on Standing Committees of
Banks, Corporations Authorities and
Commission, Education, Labor, Mental
Health and Small Business..
Caribbean Life, MAY 21-27, 2021 3
From left: Dr. Olga Husbands, Pamela Cozier, Ynolde Walkin and Pamela’s sister, Unitha Cozier Cumberbatch.
Photo by Nelson A. King
Long, rough road ahead for full
volcanic recovery in SVG: CB 17
By Nelson A. King
A community board in Brooklyn is
warning that a long, rough road still
lies ahead for St. Vincent and the
Grenadines for full recovery from the
explosive eruptions of La Soufrière volcano
that ravaged the country.
That assessment was made by Community
Board 17 that represents parts
of East Flatbush and Flatbush, Brooklyn,
based on a town hall meeting last
Thursday, on the effects of the eruptions
on St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
hosted by members of the board’s Block
Association Committee.
Victor Jordan — a Guyanese-born
attorney and economist, who serves
as 1st vice chairperson of Community
Board 17 and whose late grandfather,
Alexander Jordon, was born in Chateaubelair,
a town along the northwestern
coast of St. Vincent and the
Grenadines and within the red zone of
La Soufrière volcano — told Caribbean
Life Wednesday that he moderated the
town hall.
He said the presenters were Prof.
Compton Bourne, former president
of the Caribbean Development Bank
(CDB) and erstwhile principal of the
University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
Campus, Trinidad & Tobago; and
Lou-Ann Gilchrist, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines’ Ambassador to the United
States and the Organization of American
States (OAS).
“Amb. Gilchrist itemized many of
the challenges that St. Vincent (and the
Grenadines) is facing, as it tries to bring
daily life of people and the economy
back to normal in the aftermath of the
eruption of the La Soufrière volcano,”
said Jordan, an Adjunct Professor in
Economics at Brooklyn College.
“Some of the residents from the
orange zone have been allowed to
return,” he added. “However, the
ambassador suggests that the devastation
in the red zone may be so severe
that people may not be able to return in
the foreseeable future. If the red zone is
declared inhabitable, then thousands of
people will be without homes.
“The eruption of the volcano has
destroyed many of the roads in the
affected areas and also damaged bridges,”
Jordan continued. “As a result,
certain parts of St. Vincent (and the
Grenadines) remain impassable, which
is frustrating relief and rebuilding
efforts.”
Currently, Jordan said there is “a
pressing need for six-wheeler type
trucks that would allow relief efforts
to continue in areas hardest hit by the
volcano’s eruptions.”
In addition, he said some areas hit
by the volcano may not be accessible to
Vincentians in a long time to come.
In terms of health care, Jordan said
Gilchrist noted that some equipment
had to be removed from hospitals in the
affect zones to prevent further damage
by the emission of ashes and other
debris.
“This has disrupted the treatment
of people who are on dialysis or receiving
other treatment from hospital
equipment,” he said. “People (are) now
required to wait for long periods of
time before getting access to life-saving
treatment.”
Jordan said the ashes spewed by the
volcano have also contaminated the air
in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, stating,
however, that it is still unclear what
effects the ashes will have on the respiratory
system of nationals.
He said there is an immediate need
to test the air quality in the country “to
see exactly what corrective measures
could be taken to protect the health of
people who cannot leave to go somewhere
else.”
In addition, Jordan said there is an
even bigger question: “That is what is
the correct way to disposes of the ashes.
Is it safe to dispose of the ashes into the
sea?
“Do we know what effect the ashes
will have on the fishes and ecosystem
in St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ sea
resources?” he asked.
Prior to the eruption of the La
Soufrière volcano, the government was
finally getting a handle on the COVID-19
pandemic, Jordan said.
“However, now, the ambassador noted
there is a spike in the infection rates in
the emergency shelters, which is due to
the crammed quarters of the facilities,”
he said, stating that these emergency
shelters had to be set up to accommodate
20,000 people, who were evacuated
from the red zone.
“Because of some resistance to testing
and vaccination, there is some concern
that there could be a greater spike in
infections in the shelters and eventually
in the whole country,” Jordan added.
Richardson
applauds late Dr.
Roy A. Hastick
for his vision