Due to State of Emergency announced by the Mayor Bill de Blasio Sunday’s Grace Jamaican and VP Records Jerk and Music Festival in New York City has been postponed. New date Sunday, August 25, 2019. —– New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signs an executive order proclaiming a state of local emergency due to the extreme heat forecast, through Sunday, July 21. Major events (with attendance of more than 1,000 people) at City Parks were ordered canceled (or postponed) due to the expected heatwave. Organizers of the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival have rescheduled the event to August 25 at which time all tickets will be honored.

A gift from daughter to dad

By Herman Hall

Last evening, Friday May 4, the screening of a film at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York about the contributions of Rawlston Charles, a producer of calypso and early soul-calypso (soca), will become part of calypso and Caribbean history. It is the first time a documentary focusing on a calypso-soca pioneer was introduced at the famed Tribeca Film Festival established in 2003 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff.

Tina Charles, WNBA superstar, two-time gold winning Olympian who also led the University of Connecticut – UCONN – to two national champions and daughter of Rawlston Charles, made her debut as a film director and producer. While touring the Smithsonian National MuseumofAfrican American History & Culture in Washington, DC with her mother, both were astonished to see Charlie’s Records and Rawlston Charles included in a display. Although Tina was aware of her father’s involvement in calypso, she did not realize the extent until she saw his recognition at the museum. During the last few years she spent most of her non-basketball time producing the film. She remarked, last evening, that she sometimes arrived at practice late and even shortened after-the-game media briefings while arduously preparing the film.

                I attended the film screening Friday evening and I must say I was emotional for multiple reasons; it was truly a reflective night. There was space for only a few of Tina family members, close friends and makers of the documentary. Family and friends gathered at Charlie’s Records on Fulton Street, Brooklyn, to take a charted bus to Manhattan. Emotional moments began at the store where many calypso stalwarts of the 1970s and 1980s who were part of the calypso fever were awaiting the bus.

Just as the film was about to begin calypso producer and distributor Granville Straker of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who and Charles were fierce rivals and one can say fierce enemies during those decades, now frail, gently helped by his daughter, Suzanne Straker Greenidge, M.D., FA.C.O.G., to experience this historic event. And, Charles daughter, a famous American personality, producing a documentary about her father of which homage to Straker was included in the film. To know the two gladiators of calypso raising two productive Caribbean-American daughters was gratifying.

It was emotional to see images of the late Lord Kitchener, Duke, Shadow, Holly Thomas and others. And, to watch artists such as David Rudder, The Mighty Sparrow, King Wellington, Explainer, Machel Montano and Poser reflect on Rawlston Charles.

Last year Tina frequently called me to retrieve EVERYBODY’S Magazine photos of her father and the calypso era. Sometimes 3am, 2 am, from wherever she was playing basketball, China, Russia, Europe, I never told her that thousands of our photos from Bob Marley, Caribbean political events to calypso are not cataloged and are scattered in draws and closets at the magazine. It took me months in the midst of ill-health to find them. Last night, I was moved to see how Tina and her assistants used the photos and my articles.

The late calypsonian Arrow “Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot” was produced by Rawlston Charles but sadly the new owners of the song who make a ton of money each year for the right of advertisers to use the calypso in commercials did not grant Tina permission to play the song in the film. Arrow’s brother who also participated in the creation of the classic cannot get a single dollar from the owners of the song because he cannot present a written contract with his late brother.

The documentary is not only about Charles pioneering efforts in calypso. His Rawlston Recording Studio became the recording home of early hip hop artists such as Dough E Fresh. They pay tribute to Charles in the film. Most people do not realize that many rappers’ and hip hop hits such as  “La Di Da Di” were recorded at Rawlston Recording Studios.

EVERYBODY’S Caribbean Magazine will do a formal review of the film in an upcoming edition. I cannot wait to see how the Trinidad & Tobago media, calypso critics and scholars will react to the film and Tobago born and raised, Rawlston Charles.

Sir Alister McIntyre, an architect of the present economic structure of Caricom (the Caribbean Community) died in later April. He was 87.

Caribbean political leaders, and leaders in other fields, reacted to Sir Alister McIntyre’s passing who in the 1970 was principal economic advisor to the late Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley when Manley became leader of his party.

“Shocking is the news that our Sir Alister has passed. Larger than life in his long sojourn, it is difficult to embrace the finality of this existential fragility.  The people of the Caribbean, and their University of the West Indies — which he served as Vice-Chancellor— will not be impoverished by his transition because the phenomenal richness of his contributions to their growth and transformation will continue to yield development dividends deep into the future,” Sir Hilary said in a condolence message.

Sir Shridath Ramphal, the former secretary general of the Commonwealth and a former Chancellor of the UWI, said that “a precious light has gone out in our Caribbean world.”

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, “I am deeply saddened he was a respected economist, educator, administrator and true champion of regional integration.”

Jamaica opposition Leader, Dr Peter Phillips remarked, “For over 50 years Alister McIntyre’s name has been synonymous with the quest for Caribbean development. He was a giant of Caribbean scholarship and a champion of the regional movement.”

Sir Alister lived in Jamaica for almost all his adult life thereby most Jamaicans claim him as a son of the soil but he was born, raised and received his primary and secondary school in Grenada.

Grenada’s Prime Minister Keith Mitchell remarks, “It is with great sadness that I learnt of the passing of Sir Alister McIntyre. Grenada, Jamaica, in fact the entire Caribbean has lost a dear son who has left us a rich legacy, characterized by profound knowledge and unwavering commitment to regionalism.

Grenada was his homeland and Jamaica was where he lived but much of his life was spent in service to the people of the region.

In his early career as a lecturer in economics at the University of the West Indies, at the St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago and the Mona Campus in Jamaica, Sir Alister helped to mold the minds of many brilliant persons who have had the benefit of his teaching, some of whom have since earned acclaim in their respective countries and also at the regional level. Later, as Vice Chancellor of UWI, he contributed to shaping the strategic direction of this noble regional institution.

Sir Alister was third in the line of distinguished Caribbean nationals who served as Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM),1974 to 1977, and his leadership of the organization came at a critical juncture, just one year after the Treaty of Chaguaramas was signed. Sir Alister can therefore be considered one of the pioneers who shaped the infrastructure on which we have built our efforts at regional integration.

I remember Sir Alister serving as Chief Technical Officer of the Caribbean regional Negotiating Machinery and playing a crucial role in trade negotiations at the international level. The early successes of that body in negotiations with the World Trade Organization and the European Union spoke volumes of the technical capacity of individuals like Sir Alister.

After the U.S. invasion or rescue mission of Grenada in October 1983, Governor-General Paul Scoon invited Sir Alister to head an interim government. Sir Alister accepted but shortly later rescinded. Some Grenadians felt McIntyre has abandoned Grenada in its darkest hour allegedly to fulfill other commitments and health reasons.

Privately, Sir Paul Scoon was not pleased. In an off- the-record conversation with the publisher of EVERYBODY’S Magazine a few years later, Sir Alister said it was not for health reasons nor for existing commitments.   

It was at Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn, NY, almost two decades ago Sir Alister suggested that UWI graduates worldwide organize annual fundraising events in countries where they resided to assist Caribbean students who are qualified to study at the UWI but couldn’t due to financial reasons.

FEB. 26, NY: Councilman Jumaane Williams of Brooklyn was elected Public Advocate by voters in the five boroughs of the City of New York. He is now the second highest ranking elected official in municipal government — second to the mayor. On Tuesday, Feb. 26, he defeated a field of 14 Democrats and two Republicans.
Williams, considered a progressive Democrat, is not afraid to challenge other liberals from Governor Andrew Cuomo to Mayor Bill de Blasio. For those reasons and others, he has a wide following of all New Yorkers from the Arab, Jews and Pakistanis to young activists and grassroots organizations.
In December, EVERYBODY’S, the Caribbean-American Magazine, declared Williams the magazine’s Person of the Year for 2018. And, two weeks before the election, EVERYBODY’S endorsed him followed by thousands of emails, Instagram and WhatsApp sent to voters on his behalf. “We urged Caribbean people all over the world to urge family and friends in New York City to vote for Williams,” says the magazine’s editor. “We believe he needed a strong Caribbean voter turnout to gain victory so the magazine took the initiative to tell immigrants in New York City of Williams’ background.” In the English speaking and Haitian speaking communities in Brooklyn Williams got nearly 80% of their votes.
Williams, the first Caribbean-American to hold the second highest position in New York City, joined a group of Caribbean-Americans in the category of “first” including Shirley Chisholm, the first black and Caribbean-American in Congress; Congressman Mervyn Dymally the first black and Caribbean-American in the California Senate and later as Lieutenant Governor of California and Hulan Jack of Saint Lucia who in 1953 became the first black person elected a borough president in NY.
Williams virtually has no time to celebrate. He has to assume office immediately and prepare for possible challengers on June 26, Primary Day, in New York. Tuesday’s Special Election filled the vacancy created by former Public Advocate Letitia James when she became New York State Attorney General. Williams will be Public Advocate until December 31. But, election for a new four year-term is November 6. Williams is expected to be victorious on June 26 and formally elected on November 6.
Photos: Former EVERYBODY’S intern Jeanine Williams who is Williams sister, longtime family friend Herman Hall and Jumaane Williams at the victory party, Nostrand Avenue, last night in Brooklyn.
Patricia Williams Jumaane’s mom who introduced him last night.
A member from of the Jewish community at last night’s celebration.

EVERBODY’S, the Caribbean-American Magazine

&

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Endorse

COUNCILMAN JUMAANE WILLIAMS FOR PUBLIC ADVOCATE.

On February 15, EVERYBODY’S Magazine, established in 1977, endorsed Councilman Jumaane Williams for the office of Public Advocate in New York City in a Special Election scheduled for Tuesday, February 26.

On Thursday February 21, the famed New York Times also endorsed Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate.

“The best candidate to hold Mr. de Blasio accountable and to press for reforms is Jumaane Williams, a veteran city councilman with a record of accomplishment and a steadfast willingness to stand up to powerful interests on behalf of New Yorkers,” says The NYT.

  The NYT continues, “He has won passage of more than 50 bills, far more than many of his colleagues … Along with Councilman Brad Lander, Mr. Williams sponsored the Community Safety Act, which established an inspector general for the Police Department.”

In announcing Jumaane Williams as its Person of the Year for 2018, EVERYBODY’S observed, “One of the most significant bills he initiated was the Community Safety Act, which led to the curbing of stop-and-frisk, a policy which-many felt was racist – unfairly targeted NYC’s young black male population.”

“He is the People’s Person of the Year because he is very visible throughout the Big Apple, and embodies the aspirations of his constituents and the vibrant Caribbean-New York Community and is committed to making to make NY and the nation a more just and equitable place for all. Councilman Williams, who is also Deputy Leader of New York City Council, has proven time and time again since 2010 that he truly cares about New York City, the nation, and for the less fortunate,”  the magazine’s said of its Person of the Year. Williams is now among Caribbean luminaries such as the late Nobel Laureate Sir Arthur Lewis and Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm on the magazine’s annual list of Person of the Year.

In its February 15^th endorsement of Williams, EVERYBODY’S pointed out, “He is not afraid to criticize officials from his own party, Democrats, from Governor Andrew Cuomo to Mayor Bill de Blasio. If elected, voters can be assured that Williams will not rubberstamp the policies of the governor, mayor, or even the Democratic Party.”

  “EVERYBODY’S, the Caribbean-American magazine, is not endorsing and asking voters in the City of New York on February 26 to vote for Williams because he is African-American or Caribbean-American.

We endorse Williams with great alacrity and urge all New Yorkers to vote for him because he is the perfect person for public advocate. His experience, trustworthiness, contributions in the City Council, ability to get his bills enacted into law and his passion for New York City, New York State and the entire nation have qualified him for the office of Public Advocate.”