Caribbean Corner

SUNY Downstate is a vital Brooklyn institution – it’s an essential engine to training the next generation of diverse, world-class medical professionals and scientists for New York State, delivering quality health care services for New Yorkers, and addressing health disparities in Central Brooklyn. However, at this point last year, SUNY Downstate’s hospital was running a $100 million annual deficit and was at risk of being unable to operate without additional funding, while contending with a hospital facility in disrepair and vulnerable to major crises. Following decades of disinvestment, Governor Hochul and the Legislature struck an unprecedented agreement during budget negotiations earlier this year to help stabilize Downstate by providing $300 million in historic capital funding and allocating $100 million to temporarily cover the deficit while a long-term solution for a stronger Downstate could be developed. Further, to chart that new, long-term path forward, negotiation...

The Family Life Ministry at Fenimore Street United Methodist Church (FSUMC) in Brooklyn on Sat., Dec. 7 brought much-needed, early Christmas cheer to several unhoused families in New York City, as the committee hosted its Annual Christmas Party for families in shelters. Families from homeless shelters in Brooklyn and Staten Island – including Hospitality House, Urban Transitional Family Center and Staten Island Family Transition Center – were treated, along with walk-ins from the neighboring community, to a sumptuous lunch, as well as with donations of clothing and shoes, and other gifts. [caption id="attachment_69021" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Families and coordinators at the Urban Transitional Family Center on Saratoga Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Photo by Nelson A. King [/caption] They also participated in several activities, such as tug-of-war, sack races and tattoo parlor, after which winners were able to choose a prize. “Our...

Let’s be CLEAR, this is NOT a traditional Caribbean Christmas cake. However, this is for people who want cake but are a bit afraid of baking. For those of us who want something close to a traditional holiday cake, but didn’t soak their fruits for months leading up to Christmas as we normally do in the Caribbean. And finally, for those of us who just want a simple, quick and tasty cake.. with a hint rum and dried fruits. [caption id="attachment_68998" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Photo by Chris De La Rosa [/caption] You’ll Need… 2 boxed cake mix 1 cup rum (dark) 1 1/2 cup Port (or sherry – any fortified wine) 1 teaspoon nutmeg (fresh grated) 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 orange (zest) 1 cup raisins 1 cup prunes (rough chop) 1 cup citrus peel 1 cup mixed fruit 1-2 tablespoon Caribbean Browning 1 1/2 tablespoon Vanilla more Port or Rum for soaking the finished cake whatever ingredients is mentioned ...

Kwanzaa, a non-religious and non-commercial holiday created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor and activist, will be observed from December 26 to January 1. However, there will be a calendar of events leading up the actual celebration period with events around the boroughs, starting on Dec. 14. The cultural holiday celebrates African heritage and African American culture., culminating, in a festive gathering known as the Karamu Ya Imani (Feast of Faith). Kwanzaa is a time for reflection, community, and the reaffirmation of cultural values and principles. During the week of Kwanzaa, families and communities come together to share a feast, to honor the ancestors, affirm the bonds. Each day families  light a candle  to highlight the principle of that day and to breathe meaning into the principles with various activities, such as reciting the sayings or writings of great black thinkers and writers, reciting original poetry, African drumming, and sharing a meal of African d...

New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced that — thanks to the administration's successful asylum seeker management strategies, which have continued to drive down the number of people in the city's care and reduce costs — 25 shelters, including the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, are slated to close in the coming two months. Adams said that thanks to the administration's successful advocacy for executive orders at the border by the Biden-Harris administration, which have significantly reduced the rate at which Caribbean and other asylum seekers are arriving in New York City and seeking care, and the administration's successful asylum seeker management strategies — including reticketing, case management, and 30- and 60-day notices — the number of asylum seekers in city shelters has decreased for 22 straight weeks and is now at its lowest point in over 17 months. Immigration advocates say that many of...

The Barbadian groups Blackbelly Sheep, LLC and Q—New York, LLC honored Barbadian radio pioneer Neville Bush last Saturday night for his contribution to radio in the Caribbean community in New York. Ron Simon, president and founder of both groups, told Caribbean Life that Bush and two other community figures were honored during a ceremony at Nazareth Hall in Brooklyn for their "outstanding work throughout the Diaspora for decades." Simon said Nikita Robinson was honored for "academic excellence" and Archie "Killer" Miller for "40-plus years of service." Bush, whose real name is Neville Bushell, told Caribbean Life that he started playing Caribbean music in 1975 on his Caribbean Pepperpot program on WHBI. He said CaribbeanPepperpotRadio.com and 106.3 FM. broadcast the program. A year after starting Caribbean Pepperpot, Bush said he moved to Radio Stations WLIB/WBLS for 30 years and was an On-air personality for two years. ...

Walter Greene's name is etched into New York's catalog, which documents the prominent Black scribes who have impacted the landscape. Born in Guyana, Greene was the youngest of five children. He moved to New York in the 1970s, choosing the less traveled path in journalism, focussing on fashion. As the spokesperson for underrepresented Black fashionistas, he dominated Black and Caribbean media with images ignored by dominant commercial outlets. Establishing a niche at Carib News, he became the go-to specialist to style models and beauty pageant contenders. He narrated many of those events and schooled newcomers on poise and how to dress to impress. At times, combining entertainment with runway reports, for 30 years, he devoted pages of coverage to otherwise overlooked individuals. His precise expose provided fashion-forward information to color minority magazines and newspapers with fresh-faced industry aspirants. Undoubtedly, Greene broadened the r...