Brooklyn Mechanics provide relief funds to SVG
Grand Deputy Master Glenver Jones (Back row, second left), SVG US Consul General Howie Prince( Back row,
third left) with members of the SVG Relief, Inc., and members of the Grand Council of the Independent United
Order of Mechanics, Friendly Society, Western Hemisphere, Inc. Photo by Nelson A. King
Caribbean Life, OCTOBER 1-7, 2021 3
By Nelson A. King
The Executive Committee of the
Kings County Democratic County
Committee on Sunday convened a special
meeting, electing two new Assembly
District leaders to serve on the
Executive Committee and four new
officers of the County Committee.
Sarana Purcell was elected to fill
the vacancy for the female seat of
the 43rd Assembly District by former
District Leader Shirley Patterson; and
in the 59th Assembly District, Assemblymember
Jaime Williams was also
elected to fill the vacancy for the
female seat of the replaced District
Leader Sue Ann Partnow.
Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair,
Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the
daughter of Haitian immigrants,
thanked Patterson and Partnow for
their years of service.
“Parntow and Patterson served the
Kings County Democratic County
Committee with honor and pride,”
Bichotte Hermelyn, who represents
the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn.
“These fearless women represented
the interests of their constituencies,
upholding the values of Democracy
while raising families of their own.
“The job of District Leader is no
small task, and these women deserve
our wholehearted thanks and recognition.”
District Leader is a volunteer position.
Also elected at the meeting were,
Jean J. Joseph for treasurer, Dionne
Brown-Jordan for assistant treasurer,
Anthony T. Jones for 5th vice-chair
and Shahid H. Khan for 6th vicechair.
“We welcome the next generation of
leaders to the Party,” said Bichotte Hermelyn.
“All the newly elected members
are under 45 and represent a diverse
section of Brooklyn, from Canarsie to
Crown Heights.”
Purcell is a young leader and Caribbean
American-born from a Grenadian
immigrant family, who grew up
as an undocumented youth in Crown
Heights and went on to become Director
of Constituent Services/District
Office Manager and Office Administrator
in the New York State Assembly
in the 43rd District, before being promoted
to a Deputy Chief of Staff role
in both the City Council and New York
State Senate offices.
Currently, Purcell works for the
Office of the Brooklyn Borough President
as the director of External Boards
and executive assistant to the deputy
borough president.
Trinidadian Williams began her first
term to serve the 59th Assembly District
in 2016, encompassing Canarsie,
Georgetown, Mill Basin, Marine Park,
Bergen Beach and Gerritsen Beach.
She has served the community for
years as a certified alcohol and substance
abuse counselor with a Master’s
in Social Work, including counseling
women and children who were victims
of domestic violence.
Her experience has allowed her to
collaborate with faith-based community
and civic organizations to promote
awareness about domestic violence.
Williams advocated and counseled
clients who are HIV positive and have
histories of substance abuse. Williams
is the first Black and first Caribbean
American, from Trinidad and Tobago,
to hold this seat.
Dominican Joseph, CPA, has been a
campaign treasurer to political candidates
at New York state and city levels
of government for the past 12 years.
She possesses over three decades of
accounting experience, and has been
the founder and chief executive officer
of Joseph Tax & Consulting Services
since 2001 – a certified MWBE.
Joseph has received certificates of
special recognition and proclamations
from: The United States Congress;
New York State Senate; New York State
Assembly; Office of the New York City
Mayor and the Office of Brooklyn Borough
President.
Brown-Jordan, Female District leader
of the 46th Assembly District, has
been in the professional service of
helping children and families in South
Brooklyn for 31 plus years.
By Nelson A. King
Even though the eruptions of La
Soufriere Volcano in St. Vincent and
the Grenadines have ceased, volcanic
relief and funds are still pouring in for
the disaster-stricken country.
The Brooklyn-based Grand Council
of the Independent United Order of
Mechanics, Friendly Society, Western
Hemisphere, Inc. is the latest to make
a financial contribution to the relief
efforts.
Top executives, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines US Consul General, Howie
Prince, as well as three members of
the Brooklyn-based SVG Relief USA,
Inc., the main relief organization that
coordinates relief for volcano-ravaged
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, were
on hand Saturday, at the Mechanics
Headquarters in Bedford-Stuyvesant,
for the US$3,000.00 check presentation
ceremony.
“As community-based organizations,
today, we are here lending and receiving
support to and on behalf of our brothers
and sisters who have been affected by the
recent volcano eruptions on the island
of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” said
Hyacinth Robinson-Goldson, the Jamaican
born Community Liaison for the
Order, who coordinated the event.
“On behalf of the Grand Council of the
Independent United Order of Mechanics,
Friendly Society, Western Hemisphere,
Inc. let me welcome you to this handover
ceremony, as part of our financial
contribution towards the relief effort,”
she added. “We know that the damages
left by this devastating volcano will
have lasting impact on the island. And
so, we are very pleased, that we, too, as
an organization can lend a hand in the
rebuilding efforts.”
Other members of the executive
present were: Grand Deputy Master
Glenver Jones, representing Errol Collins,
Most Worshipful Grand Master;
Neville S. Reid, chairman and disaster
preparedness executive grand trustee;
and Councilor Verol Gill, executive
grand trustee.
SVG Relief USA, Inc. was represented
by Assistant Treasurer Sandra Millington,
Dr. Olga Husband and Ynolde
“Nolly” Walkin.
“Benevolence and charity are among
our main activities,” said Jamaican-born
Jones. “Charity is very close to our
hearts.”
He said that many members of the
Order are Vincentian nationals.
“On behalf of Most Worshipful Grand
Master Errol Collins, we want to extend
to Hon. Neville S. Reid a heartfelt thank
you for their hand work (in raising the
funds),” Jone said.
Reid emphasized that the main function
of his committee was to help the
community in times of need.
Prince said: “Today, you are among
those we can consider are among other
Samaritan friends.
“Most think the Order is about secrecy,
but you are showing you’re more
than secrecy,” he said. “Today, you’ve
proven who you really are.
“Today, I accept, with great gratitude,
this check for US$3,000.00,” the Consul
General added.
New generation of leadership for Brooklyn Dems