By Nelson A. King
Three Caribbean-born legislators in
Brooklyn said on Thursday that they
have secured “pivotal” grants to combat
gun violence in the community.
In a joint statement, New York Sen.
Roxanne J. Persaud (SD 19), New York
State Assembly Member Jaime Williams
(59th A.D.) and New York State
Assembly Member N. Nick Perry (58th
A.D.) announce the securing of “crucial
grants” to help combat gun violence
in their respective districts.
The legislators said they jointly
granted funding to East Flatbush Village,
Inc., a community-based organization
working to combat gun violence
through community outreach, crisis
response and youth programming.
“In addition to placing more interrupters
in the community to stop
senseless gun violence, East Flatbush
Village, Inc., will have mentors working
with youth age three through 18
on esteem building and healthy selfexpression,”
the statement said.
“It has been a pleasure to work
with Gov. Hochul’s administration to
stand up additional violence intervention
programs in our district”, said
Guyanese-born Persaud.
“This grant for East Flatbush Village,
Inc., will fund increased credible
messenger and outreach worker presence
in ZIP codes with the highest
levels of gun violence in Central and
South Brooklyn, including Canarsie,
East New York and Brownsville,” she
added. “Gun violence intervention and
prevention saves lives”.
The legislators said the grants totaling
over $200,000 will “assuredly assist
in the prevention of youth being caught
up in gun violence plaguing our great
state and city.”
“With shootings rapidly increasing,
it is incumbent on those who are
elected to help prevent our youth from
being caught up in this health crisis of
gun violence,” said Trinidadian-born
Williams.
“We see it too often: deadly street
shootouts, domestic violence killings
and suicides and the frequent
use of guns being used to solve dispute
between neighbors and friends”,
said veteran legislator, Jamaican-born
Perry. “Too many families have been
torn apart by the scourge of gun violence
in our neighborhoods. Lives lost,
lives ruined, young minds scarred forever.
“It has, therefore, been a priority of
mine to work to stem the tide of gun
violence by supporting community
groups like East Flatbush Village, Inc.,
that are on the ground, in the streets,
doing the work, which makes a positive
impact on our community,” he added.
Caribbean Life, OCTOBER 15-21, 2021 5
President of the Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce, Wesley Kirton, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin
Croal, Prime Minister Brigadier Ret. Mark Phillips, M.P. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, and the new
Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, Ambassador Caroline Rodrigues after an Investment
Forum at Grace Christian Church in Brooklyn.
Guyana’s PM M. Phillips ignores protesters,
encourages expats to invest in homeland
By Tangerine Clarke
Prime Minister of Guyana, Brigadier
Ret. Mark Phillips was bombarded
with screams of no ‘justice no peace’
from nationals, who hurled insults
and waved Guyana flags to Bob Marley’s
song ‘War’ to protest the PPP government,
who they called murderers,
as the politician entered Grace Christian
Church in Brooklyn on Oct. 12.
The newly elected prime minister
and a delegation that included, M.P.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs,
Gail Teixeira, Minister of Housing
and Water, Colin Croal, and Ambassador
Caroline Rodrigues, and who
applauded the chants as he walked
into the auditorium, was in the borough
to address the Guyanese Caribbean
Chamber of Commerce forum
hosted by President Wesley Kirton.
Not fazed by the protesters, the
politician later in his discourse said,
“as we seek to develop Guyana, our
plan will include the people protesting
outside, they will be a part of the
development of Guyana, they could
participate in the development of Guyana,”
as he called on expatriates to
invest in their homeland.
“As a government, we do not wish to
squander the good will that was given
to us by the international community
and the diaspora. We will be a responsible
government. We will work day
and night to make Guyana a county
for all Guyanese.
“We won the elections, and it took
us five months to form the government,
democracy prevailed,” said Phillips.
He said that the next big thing
for Guyana is development that will
benefit the six races of people, noting
that President Irfaan Ali coined the
phrase – “One Guyana” that is principle
to nation building.
He said Guyana has one of the fastest
growing economies in the Caribbean
region, noting a 14.5 percent
increase in the sectors of oil, agriculture,
mining, tourism and other
industries, since the PPP took office,
adding that by 2030 there will be millions
of barrels of oil being produced
per day.
He said his government is industrializing
the coastline of Demerara
where shore base facilities are being
constructed, and there is a need for
150 technically skilled workers, that
is currently being undertaken, with
future employment in the 22 oil fields
where ships are drilling.
The PM, promises a liberalized telecommunication
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
system, increase
bandwidth, and expansion in Guyana’s
connectivity sector.
“We will bridge the Information
Communication Technology (ICT)
divide with the rural, and hinterlands
areas of Guyana, a 1.9M project that
will be rolled out to the hinterland and
poor communities, that will benefit
from this project,” he shared.
The private sector, he said will be
playing a role in the development of
ICT and Energy and is committed to
the financial aspects in keeping with
the laws of Guyana.
“We are transforming Guyana, tremendously
in repairing infrastructure
across the country, to ensure farm to
market accessibility, leading from the
hinterland.
He said the country is open for
investment. In agriculture forestry,
sharing that two companies from Brazil
will build mega farms in the Rupununi
area, with better roads being
built for serious investments, noting
millions be allocated for health facilities,
capacity building.
“Education is a driver for any county
that is transforming and developing.”
Noting also that security, is a
concern for investors of the diaspora,
and promised that huge funds will be
allocated for top-notch security and
crime fighting and public security.
“Police officers will be trained in
crime fighting, and respond timing to
crime scenes, he shared, noting that
50 new vehicles, were recently issued
to the police force.
“We want to Change the attitude of
police officers, so we can create safety
and security, and build confidence
within the diaspora for investment
opportunities,” said Phillips.
Guyanese outside Grace Christian
Church, in Brooklyn protesting the
Prime Minister of Guyana, Brigadier
Ret. Mark Phillips of the current PPP
government. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Grants to
combat gun
violence