Call for unity at Rockaways carnival
Nurses, administrative staff, and line staff of St. John’s Episcopal
Hospital – Episcopal Health Services Inc. co-sponsor,
join Renée Hastick-Motes, mpa vice president, external affairs,
Episcopal Health Services Inc. third from left, seated, at
the 3rd Annual Caribbean Carnival in the Far Rockaways.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Caribbean L BQ ife, Aug. 23, 2019 55
By Tangerine Clarke
The 3rd Annual Caribbean
Carnival in the Rockaways, hosted
by Senator James Sanders Jr.,
and the Rockaway Development
and Revitalization Corporation,
revved up the carnival season,
last Saturday, with a spectacular
presentation to showcase the
radiant diversity in the cape.
The compact parade with decorated
floats and revelers in exotic
costumes, made a loud noise
through the town that is home
to a large Caribbean population.
Spectators lined the streets
with flags raised as masqueraders
put on quite a show, gyrating
to live infectious Caribbean
music from elaborate speakers
and deejay trucks, as the parade
made its way along the streets.
The T&T Corruption mas
band, led by a large twin-island
flag and revelers in bedazzling
white costumes and white feathered
headpieces, brought the
spirit of the islands to the Rockaways.
The NYPD Explorers, the
Warrior-Scholar Martial Arts
group, the Rock Safe Streets
Don’t Shoot initiative, the NYC
Stan Pepper Steppers, the Lion’s
Club, and local businesses, all
showed their pride and love of
cultural diversity.
St. John’s Episcopal Hospital,
the largest employer in Far
Rockaway, Queens, and a cosponsor
of the Caribbean Carnival,
represented with a decorated
float to promote the excellent
services the institution provides
to the community.
Renée Hastick-Motes, mpa
vice president, external affairs,
Episcopal Health Services Inc.,
congratulated the 3rd Annual
Caribbean Carnival committee,
for showcasing the West Indian
culture, noting that there is a
large Caribbean population in the
peninsula and praised St. John’s
as the number one employer in
the Rockaways.
“We have a large Caribbean
employee population, and as
such, we make sure we participate
in all events in the community,”
said Hastick-Motes,
adding, “We want the community
to know that we are not
only a healthcare institution, we
are also a community partner
as well.”
Nurses and administrative
staff of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital,
Episcopal Health Services
Inc., joined the parade as masqueraders,
she said.
Perched atop a float, Senator
James Sanders Jr. called for unity
in communities, stating that the
carnival is a celebration of great
diversity in the Rockaways.
The politician, who has represented
the 10th Senatorial District,
which includes the Queens
neighborhoods of Richmond
Hill, South Ozone Park, Jamaica,
Rochdale Village, Rosedale,
for the past six years said, “we
need unity between our communities,”
while using the occasion
to address immigration issues.
“We are going to liberate
the Rockaways, in the ‘people’s
republic’ of South East Queens,
we welcome you all,” he assured.
The carnival, he said, is to
inspire local people to create their
own businesses. He encouraged
citizens to use the celebration
as a springboard where “we can
not only showcase our greatness,
but create businesses that would
enable our community to grow.”
“We are three years, and
growing every year. We will double,
next year, we will literally
be on the beach,” Sen. Sanders
Jr. said.
Assemblywoman Rodneyse
Bishotte joined the senator in
calling for unity, while displaying
flags of Guyana and Haiti. She
said it was important to unite,
especially at this time when others
are working to railroad immigration
policies.
“We want to continue pushing
for immigration policies to
help constituents to build this
county,” she said.
Tiffany Caban, former candidate
for Queens district attorney,
called the ‘People’s DA of Queens’
by Sen. Saunders, said it was a
beautiful thing to connect and
organize, but organizing should
not only happen during election
cycle, but everyday to show the
power of the community.
“This event is reflective of our
values and culture and we must
continue coalition building for
our community,” said Caban.
Jean Joseph, president of
the West Indian American Day
Carnival Association, WIADCA,
came out to show support for
the carnival and thanked Sen.
Sanders for carrying on the West
Indian legacy.
She also invited the crowd to
join in the festivities in Brooklyn
from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2, saying,
“let’s move forward on the
Parkway.”
The carnival, that was also
attended by Angela Chambers,
representative of the office of
Brooklyn District Attorney, Eric
Gonzalez, began at Beach 20th
Street and Seagirt Boulevard
picked up more revelers along
the way before ending at Bays
Water Park, for a day of steel pan
music, food and live entertainment.
Masqueraders decked out in costumes at the 3rd Annual Caribbean Carnival in the Rockaways,
Queens. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
From left: T&T Presents - Corruption mas band, dance to infectious Caribbean music, along the streets of Far Rockaway, Queens, to celebrate the 3rd
Annual Caribbean Carnival in the Rockaways. Staff of the St. John’s Episcopal Hospital – Episcopal Health Services Inc. co-sponsor fl oat in the 3rd Annual
Caribbean Carnival in the Rockaways. The 149 Civic Association members, join Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bishotte and Sen. James Sanders Jr. at the
3rd Annual Caribbean Carnival of the Rockaway. Photos by Tangerine Clarke