T&T celebrates 57th Independence day in Queens
By Tangerine Clarke
Trinidad and Tobago
Independence Day was
commemorated at Queens
Borough Hall for the very
first time, and expatriates
applauded their accomplishments,
during a Citations
of Honors presentation,
on Sept. 12 in the
Helen Marshall Cultural
Center.
They are: Nazir Rahaman,
US military vet,
opened three stores,
named ‘Numbers’ providing
jobs for his community.
The Cricket Team
founder was lauded for his
outstanding hard work in
the community.
Fred Mahabir is a
wounded US Army war
vet who served in Vietnam.
Also known as
DJ Freddy, he promoted
Trinidad artistes in the
US. He was also an assistant
vice president for a
banking institution.
Judge Karen Gopee,
who immigrated to the
US at age one, is the first
Trinidad-American criminal
judge. She served as
Judge Calabrese’s court
attorney for many years
playing a critical role. She
established a program
that recommended drug
treatment instead of jail
time. Judge Gopee also
forged community partnerships
that brought
opportunities to local
youth, to bridge the gap
between the police and
the community.
Allison Alexis is an
eight-year breast cancer
survivor, and founder of
the Annual Queens Cancer
Walk in Richmond
Hill. She also stated
Angels of Hope, a support
group for cancer survivors.
She hosted her 6th
Annual Queens Cancer
Walk on Sept. 14, in
Smokey Park Oval, that
raised awareness and
funds to fight for survivors,
including women
and men of all ages.
DJ Darryl “D-Life”
Payne is world-renowned
deejay, formerly of Hot
97 FM and 107.5 WBLS.
He is a music producer
who helped to create the
movement behind the
cutting-edge Soca fusion
sound. He also promoted
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the music of Soca
artistes, Allison Hinds,
Machel Montano, Kevin
Little, Rupee, and Bunji
Garland among others.
In 2007 he became the
first deejay to release a
Soca album on a major
US label. He can now be
heard on SiriusXM radio,
via the www.theworldnewsnet.
com, that highlights
Soca, Latin and
South Asian music from
around the world.
Wendy Kamal started
dancing, at age 7. She
is the founder of Wendy
and David Dance Academy
Inc. of South Ozone
Park.
While praising Trinidadians
for their contributions,
Queens Borough
President Melinda Katz,
said her office takes great
pride in its diversity and
works every day to make
dreams come true for
families in the borough.
BP Katz, who was
accompanied to the
platform by the Blazing
Rhythms Tassa Group,
felt it was meaningful to
celebrate the 57th Independence
Anniversary
in the people’s house —
Borough Hall.
She reminded the gathering
that they were in
the Helen Marshall Cultural
Center, named after
the previous borough
president of Guyanese
parentage, “who also
understood that celebrating
our diversity makes
us stronger every day.”
“Our culture comes
from our countries. We
respect our parents and
their traditions and religions,
and we are assimilating
into the United
States of America. It is the
differences that our parents
bring to this country
that makes Queens the
great place that it is.”
“I am proud to celebrate
your independence with
you, and proud that you
have allowed us to be a
part of your tradition and
your holidays,” said BP
Katz who praised award
recipients for their outstanding
contributions in
Queens, where natives of
190 countries speak 200
languages, and celebrate
at Borough Hall.
Trinidad and Tobago expatriates received Citations of Honor from the offi
ce of Queens Borough President. Melinda Katz at the Republic’s fi rst Independence
celebration at the municipal building. They are Judge Karen
Gopee, Nazir Raham, DJ Darryl “D-Life” Payne, Allison Alexis, Wendy Kamal
and Fred Mahabir with Trinidad and Tobago Consul General to New
York, Jerome Andre Laveau, Queens Borough President, Melinda Katz and
Assemblyman, David Weprin. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
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