Experts and pollsters predict a close race between the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) and the opposition United National Congress (UNC) in Monday, August 10, national election in Trinidad & Tobago. Both Prime Minister Keith Rowley and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar are confident they are leading their respective party to victory.
A back in time photo: Then Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and then Opposition Leader at Nelson Mandela funeral in South Africa.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts up to 19 storms will hit the Caribbean basin and southeast U.S. and perhaps 3 to 6 will develop into hurricanes or winds above 111miles per hour. Arthur, Bertha and Cristobal have already appeared and departed. They were minor.
As a result of a hurricane, at that time hurricanes were not given names, a youngster named Hamilton came to New York. He later became a Founding Father of the U.S. His portrait is on the US$10 bill and he founded the conservative New York Post.
Here are the names of possible 2020 storms:
Arthur
Bertha
Cristobal
Dolly
Edouard
Fay
Gonzalo
Hanna
Isaias
Josephine
Kyle
Laura
Marco
Nana
Omar
Paulette
Rene
Sally
Teddy
Vicky
Wilfred
NEW YORK, NY – Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Lorelei Salas today warned New Yorkers of scams related to COVID-19 to protect consumers’ identity and money.
“It is a sad reality that scammers often take advantage of people during times of crisis,” said DCWP Commissioner Lorelei Salas. “People are especially vulnerable right now and scammers will use that to their benefit. I urge everyone to think twice and do their research before giving away any personal or banking information. During difficult times like these, people cannot afford to be scammed out of their hard-earned money, especially when it comes to their vital stimulus checks.”
Scammers have come up with numerous ways to defraud people in connection with COVID-19. These scams may be phone calls, emails, text messages, or sometimes even in person. It is important to be aware of them and know what to do if you encounter one.
Visit nyc.gov/dcwp for DCWP’s full list of COVID-19 scams, which will soon be available in multiple languages. The scams are divided into several common categories:
Flatlands, a community neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, with a large population of Caribbean-New Yorkers, was the scene of a gruesome discovery on Wednesday when dozens of bodies were found in U-Haul trucks parked in front Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Services, Inc. The funeral home is at 2037A Utica Avenue, between Avenues L & M.
A New York Police Department detective told EVERYBODY’S Magazine more than 60 bodies were found in the non-refrigerated trucks.
Tired of the odor coming from the area of the funeral parlor, people called the authorities.
It is not known if all the dead found stacked in body bags inside the trucks died in the coronavirus pandemic, NYC Health Department said.
There are several funeral homes in Flatlands many are owned by Caribbean funeral directors and supported by Caribbean people in Brooklyn. Although the director of Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Services, Inc. is a black man, it is not known if he is a Caribbean-American.
By Wednesday evening NYC authorities had removed the bodies.
It is not known if any of the bodies were Caribbean immigrants or if the bodies were brought there from other boroughs.
As a result of the pandemic, there are bodies scattered across the five boroughs of New York City stored in refrigerated trucks. Funeral homes, hospitals and morgues are packed.
“We need to bring in funeral directors, morgues, clergies … when you find bodies in trucks like this throughout our city, treating them in an undignified manner, that’s unacceptable,” Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams remarked upon visiting the area.
EVERYBODY’S, the Caribbean-American magazine, is a consultant for a major NYC radio station about the COVID-19 within the English speaking and Haitian communities of the City.
As of Wednesday, 18,000 persons died in NY State; of the State’s total, close to 13,000 in NYC and in the suburbs of Long Island – Nassau 1,678, Suffolk 1,155 and Westchester County 1,006.
EVERYBODY’S estimates that more than 1,500 English speaking and Haitian speaking immigrants have died in New York City. Immigrants from every island, Guyana and Belize have perished. Caribbean-New York victims include radio disc jockeys such as Gil Bailey, bakers such as Conrad Ifill, school teachers, transit workers, community leaders such as Roy Hastick, nurses and other healthcare workers and at least 11 EVERYBODY’S Magazine subscribers.
Unlike 9/11 when EVERYBODY’S listed all the immigrants from the Caricom Caribbean who perished in the World Trade Center, the magazine is not listing New York-Caribbean deaths – just too many.
As a result of COVID-19, the magazine has made its May edition available at no cost – download it at www.everybodysmag.com.
A Mobile COVID-19 Testing Site is in Caribbean-Brooklyn. It is located in the Sears Parking Lot in Flatbush. The Site opened at 12:30pm on Saturday, April 11, a mere two days after Governor Andrew Cuomo made the decision. The site will be opened everyday until the pandemic eases.
A reason the site is in one of the major neighborhoods of Caribbean-Brooklyn and the immigrant community is to deflect criticisms of insufficient COVID-19 services in minority communities in the City of New York.
The Mobile COVID-19 center is available to everyone by appointment only. To make an appointment contact the NYS Department of Health at 888-364-3065.
Since the Sears Parking Lot is in the 42nd Assembly District, local residents may contact the District’s representatives. They are:
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke – Dem.
State Senator Kevin Parker – Dem.
Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte – Dem
CouncilmanMathieu Eugene – Dem
District Leader Rodneyse Bichotte – Dem
District Leader Joshu Pierre – Dem
District Leader Trisha Alleyne – Rep
District Leader Herman Hall – Rep
Although only yesterday EVERYBODY’S, the Caribbean-American magazine, said it is no longer announcing Caribbean-American deaths, we are making an exception to the rule. Prominent NY-Caribbean, Roy Hastick has passed. He was a Grenadian. He established the Caribbean-American Chambers of commerce. For his public service, he was bestowed an honorary doctorate a decade or two ago. Roy did not die from the coronavirus but from other medical issues. Presently in NYC anyone who is stricken with non-coronavirus may not get immediate and adequate treatment. However, his wife, a national of Saint Kitts, is hospitalized stricken with the killer virus. As of yesterday, Wed., April 8, EVERYBODY’S is projecting that between 750-900 NY-Anglophone Caribbeans have perished due to Corona including longtime subscribers of EVERYBODY’S from various islands, Guyana and Belize.
Many readers of EVERYBODY’S Magazine have been asking why we are not providing information of Caribbean-American losses due to COVID-19. Most inquiries are from people in the NY area who believe EVERYBODY’S is obligated to provide the statistics based on the consistent public service EVERYBODY’S has provided especially during 9/11.
It is too early to give accurate data but EVERYBODY’S Magazine after consulting with experts in New York City believe that approximately 950-1000 Caribbean-New Yorkers have perished so far. The statewide count Governor Andrew Cuomo provides daily of all New Yorkers is based on laboratory test. EVERYBODY’S approximation includes Caribbean people who died at home of suspected COVID-19 but not officially listed.
For example, an ambulance picked up a Caribbean woman who died in her apartment in Flatbush, Brooklyn, last Saturday. Frontline responders said cause of death was COVID – chances are she may not have been counted in the statistics since she did not die in a hospital. The next day all three persons in her apartment came down with COVID.
According to Governor Andrew Cuomo, “in New York City, 34% of deaths from coronavirus are Hispanic while 28% of deaths are black.” The black population includes people of Caribbean ancestry. Of the 28% of blacks who passed, EVERYBODY’S Magazine believes approximately 50 to 60% are of Anglophone origin.
We are preparing our May edition. USPS has been slow in delivering our April issue due to COVID. As a result, we are making our May edition available online at no cost. Check our website in late April for the digital link.
Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined with Council of Peoples Organizations (COPO), the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), faith leaders, and community advocates representing diverse communities throughout the city to demand the City’s outreach regarding the COVID-19 pandemic reflect the diversity of New York, taking into account those who do not access traditional forms of media, those whose first language is not English, and others.
Borough President Adams and participants called on the City to invest a portion of its outreach funding in ethnic media outlets serving communities throughout the city. They also urged the City to make its real-time updates via NotifyNYC available in languages other than Spanish and English, to ensure all New Yorkers are being reached during this unprecedented public health emergency.
“We can’t communicate with people where we want them to be, we have to communicate with them where they are,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “As I speak with people throughout the five boroughs, I am continually struck by how frequently crucial information about the COVID-19 pandemic is not reaching certain communities. We have to ensure that our outreach is available to all New Yorkers. That’s why we are calling on the City to broaden its outreach, offering updates on the spread of the virus and basic tips on how to keep people and their loved ones safe in a variety of different languages, and engaging ethnic media as partners in this effort to keep everyone informed. We will beat this virus only by coming together. Our diversity is our strength, and it is needed more than ever at this challenging time.”
“In times of such uncertainty, it is imperative that together, we remain united. Today, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams has assured ethnic communities across New York City that they will be recognized during this crisis. In solidarity, we will reach out to these communities by supporting ethnic media and outreach, as well as recognizing the diverse languages throughout our city. We will continually work together to support all communities impacted by COVID-19, and we forever remain dedicated to making Brooklyn strong,” said Mohammad Razvi, Chief Executive Officer of COPO.
“The Melquain Jatelle Anderson Foundation would like to thank all the first responders and essential workers across the city for showing great strength and courage during this pandemic. We acknowledge your fear while admiring your selflessness and commitment to keeping our community safe while doing your best to help those who fall victim to the COVID-19 virus. We ask that our communities do their part by practicing social distancing and not leaving their homes if they can avoid doing so. We must protect one another by following the conditions put in place to keep all of us safe. In efforts to ensure individuals internalize the severity of this pandemic, we must have information disseminated throughout ALL communities in all languages. NYC is a diverse community and English is not always the first language. We must provide information that can be read and comprehended by ALL,” said Xenia Barnes, Chief Communication Officer of the Melquain Jatelle Anderson Foundation.
“These days I am working so hard as volunteer to ensure that people who don’t speak English in our community understand in the law, directions, and how to get support if they need. It works well, but I think it is not enough to reach more people with different ethnicities and language. New York is a city made up of multiple languages and ethnicity. And NOW, we need the ethnic media so New Yorkers get the proper information about COVID-19, along with the support they need, especially in this time,” said Yasmeen Atef, President of the Yemeni Women’s Association of the United States of America.
“During this pandemic, we must stay safe, but we must also make sure that all our communities are taken into account. I was proud to join Borough President Adams today to send the message that we all must get the support and information we deserve,” said Anthony Beckford, Flatbush and East Flatbush Community Advocate.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state’s presidential primary election will be postponed from April 28 until June 23 amid coronavirus fears.
“I don’t think it’s wise to be bringing a lot of people to one location to vote,” Cuomo, a Democrat, said Saturday during a news conference. He also extended the state’s tax filing deadline to July 15.
Over 52,000 people have been confirmed to have Covid-19 across New York, Cuomo said. The state has tested a total of 155, 934 people.
The US surpassed Italy and China this week to become the country with the most coronavirus cases in the world with more than 102,963 known cases, according to CNN’s tally. At least 1,590 people have died in the US, with at least 402 of those deaths reported on Friday alone.
The Mighty Sparrow, one of the Caribbean’s greatest living icons, sends his regards to fans around the world and extends his condolences to everyone losing loved ones. “I pray to God to save the lives of people in all countries of the world,” he said. “And, I encourage everybody to remain positive.”
The call to Dr. Slinger Francisco was made by EVERYBODY’S Magazine on behalf of fans who have been calling the magazine daily concerned about the health and whereabouts of their beloved Sparrow.
He assures fans that he is adhering to preventive measures recommended and urges everybody to do likewise in order to curtail the spread of Novel Coronavirus. “Stay home, listen to the news, watch TV and read a book,” he recommends. Sparrow regrets not getting his daily newspaper since home delivery is suspended. He is an avowed reader.
Sparrow was witty and chatty as usual. Born with the talent to compose and sing, he readily recited a few impromptu lines for EVERYBODY’S to share.
“Father save us all …
Coronavirus is making us itch
You wicked son of a witch
Coronavirus go!
How you bad so!
The steelband fraternity in Brooklyn, NY is mourning the passing of Hansel Leon, a victim of COVID-19. “Hanny” as he was popularly called promoted steelpan music in the U.S. for almost four decades. He was once married to popular Jean Leon, well known Trinbagonian-New Yorker and former Director of Nursing at Kings County Medical Center.
Mr. Leon made his annual pilgrimage to Trinidad & Tobago carnival on February 5; he remained in his birth country to avoid wintry New York. He fell ill on March 13 and admitted at Couva Hospital, Trinidad. He expired on March 25 at the age of 77. Based on his early departure from NY, he may have contracted the deadly virus in Trinidad & Tobago.
He beat the iron in the rhythm section of several steelband orchestras in Brooklyn as they rehearsed for Brooklyn’s panorama at the Brooklyn Museum grounds every Labor Day weekend and added “riddim” in most soca/calypso parties and concerts.
A diehard fan of calypso, steelpan, carnival and other events that promoted the culture of Trinidad & Tobago, “Hanny” was a regular or “limer” at Sesame Flyers, the popular cultural and educational organization on Church Ave., Brooklyn. He attended calypso tents and shows presented by EVERYBODY’S Magazine.