Caribbean Corner

Hundreds of Brooklyn residents received gift packages, including turkeys and coats, on Monday, in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, as the Brooklyn Canarsie Lions Club hosted its 42nd Annual Community Thanksgiving Brotherhood Service. Temple Emanu El of Canarsie, on Rockaway Boulevard in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn, was filled for the service and subsequent Thanksgiving giveaway. The distribution of gift packages and refreshments was preceded by an hour-plus-long service that included prayers, scripture readings, cultural performances, and addresses by Brooklyn Canarsie Lions Club President Jean Joseph. Speeches by local elected officials, many of whom are Lions, and representatives also took place. They comprised Sen. Roxanne Persaud, the Guyanese-born representative for the 19th Senate District; Assembly Member Jaime Williams, the Trinidadian-born representative for the 59th Assembly District; Farah N. Louis, the daughter of Haitian and Bahamian immigrants, who re...

District Attorney Eric Gonzalez joined colorfully dressed celebrants to mark his office’s Second Diwali commemoration under the theme “Celebrating Pioneers of Progress. The blissfully event in the auditorium of NYC College of Technology, on Oct. 23, came alive with music, dance, and the elements of good over evil. Gonzalez, the first Latino to hold the prestigious position in Brooklyn, presented Proclamations to Acting Justice, Supreme Court Raja Rajeswari, Executive Director Sakhi for South Asian Survivors, Senior Priest – Spiritual Leader, Acharya Arun Gossai, Bhauvaneshwar Mandir, Inc. and International Dancer Zaman , Zamandari LLC . A special Proclamation honor was also extended to Guyanese-heritage, CBS TV Reporter Jennifer Bisram, who served as emcee. “I am delighted to welcome you to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office annual Diwali celebration,” said Gonzalez. “This evening we celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the South Asian community, ...

Brooklyn Canarsie Lions President Jean Joseph on Thursday was elected the new president of the Brooklyn-based Caribbean-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), succeeding Dr. Roy Hastick, the Grenadian-born CACCI’s late founder and long-standing president, who died on April 8, 2020. “I am grateful for this opportunity, and thank you for putting your trust in me to take the helm of leadership and steer this esteemed organization through the perilous times in which we live,” said Dominican-born Joseph, a certified public accountant (CPA), in her acceptance speech soon after her election at CACCI’s headquarters on Caton Avenue in Flatbush, Brooklyn. “I am buoyed on this journey by the sterling legacy of the Founding Father of this organization, the late Dr. the Hon. Roy Hastick,” added the Brooklyn resident. “I also acknowledge the work of all the past chairs and board members, who have served since the founding of the organization in August 1985 to now. “I’m honored ...

Assistant Chief Ruel Stephenson is one of the highest-ranked Jamaicans in the New York Police Department (NYPD), overseeing Patrol Borough Manhattan North. His career is a testament to resilience, dedication, and the transformative power of hard work. Since joining the NYPD in 1995, Stephenson’s journey from an aspiring college student to a high-ranking officer reflects his profound commitment to public service. It serves as an inspiring symbol of determination. Stephenson initially aspired to return to college after completing two years of study. However, financial constraints forced him to look for work, leading him through various roles, from a beverage truck driver to a cable laborer and a security guard at Pathmark supermarket. During this period of uncertainty, he made a life-altering decision to join the police force, seeking a stable career despite the substantial pay cut. “I needed something permanent, stable; joining the police force was a way to secure that st...