Caribbean Corner

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Dec. 20 granted clemency to 22 individuals, including 21 pardons and one commutation. Hochul said this action “recognizes individuals demonstrating remorse, exemplifying rehabilitation and displaying a commitment to improving themselves and their communities.” After implementing procedural reforms to strengthen the clemency process, the governor has made a total of 94 grants of clemency during her time in office. “Upon taking office, I implemented a series of reforms to bring additional transparency and accountability to the clemency process,” Hochul said. “I will continue working with law enforcement, victims’ rights groups, prosecutors, reform advocates and all stakeholders to ensure this process is operationalized responsibly.” The Governor's Office said it has taken a number of steps to improve transparency and communication in the clemency process. Hochul said the Executive Clemency Bureau has implemented a new policy of sending regular le...

Once the holidays are over, you may look around you at a floor full of spent wrapping paper and sad ribbons and wonder, “What’s next?” A whole new year, that’s what, and a dozen great books worthy of reaching back to find. Here they are, in no certain order, the Bookworm’s Best of 2024… FICTION If you’re a fan of best-selling novels, you won’t be surprised to see “Extinction” by Douglas Preston ($29.99, Forge) on this list. It’s the tale of a high-level vacation spot run by a big-money corporation and scientists determined to bring back certain kinds of long-extinct animals. Problem is, someone – or some thing – is hunting the lodge’s guests... For the mystery lover who likes a bit of mysticism and some true-life in their novels, “Spirit Crossing” by William Kent Krueger ($28.99, Atria) is a great pick. When the body of a Native American teen girl is discovered, Cork O’Connor’s son-in-law hopes the body solves a missing-persons case. Or cases , plural. This book is part...

Authorities in Suriname have returned the body of former military strongman and ex-president Desi Bouterse to close relatives and to his National Democratic Party (NDP) after learning over the weekend that he had died of liver failure linked to excessive drinking while in hiding from a 20-year prison sentence for mass murder. The autopsy performed on Bouterse, 79, showed that “that the probable date of death was on Monday or Tuesday. The cause of death was determined to be complication of liver failure in severe liver fibrosis, caused by chronic alcohol use," the report stated. The former army sergeant major who along with about 15 other comrades had toppled the elected government in a February 1980 coup, had vanished into hiding in January after an appeals court had upheld a 20-year prison sentence for the December 1982 murders of 15 government opponents that the military-led regime had accused of plotting with The Netherlands and other western nations to reverse the coup...

On Dec. 12, the Brooklyn Public Library's Center for Brooklyn History (BPL-CBH) hosted a hybrid conversation with Dr. Zinga Fraser about her newly edited book, " Shirley Chisholm: In Her Own Words" (University of California Press, 2024). The book description states: "This long-overdue treatment of her work establishes Chisholm as an unparalleled public intellectual and Black feminist both in her time and now. The book not only contextualizes the Civil Rights and Black Power era; it also provides timeless insights on issues that are exceedingly relevant in our current moment." It also introduces a new generation to one of the most impactful proponents of democracy in America. Fraser is an assistant professor of Africana Studies and Women's and Gender Studies at Brooklyn College and the director of the Shirley Chisholm Project on Brooklyn Women's Activism. She started the conversation by sharing why writing the book took so long. "I thi...

As 2024 ends, I am proud of a year of great progress for The City University of New York that has given us good reason to feel optimistic. In 2024, our colleges welcomed more students and implemented more programs to help guide them to careers. It was a year of record-breaking funding for the University’s research, and a year of growth with the expansion of one school. CUNY’s enrollment growth – 3% for the second year in a row – has solidified our rebound from the post-pandemic enrollment declines that impacted colleges nationwide and kept too many city students away from the transforming power of a college degree. And we’re not slowing down. This fall, more than 55,000 New York high school seniors applied to CUNY colleges during our four-week fee-waiver period – a 62% increase over last year’s inaugural fee waiver campaign. These students view college as key to their pursuit of fulfilling careers, and we are working hard to deliver on that promise. This year, we aggress...

Caribbean-American legislators have been extending holiday greetings to their respective constituents – whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. “As we come to the close of another year, I want to take a moment to wish you and your loved ones a joyful and peaceful holiday season,” said Assembly Member Brian Cunningham, the son of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 43 rd Assembly District in Brooklyn. “Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or simply taking time to reflect and rest, the holidays are a wonderful opportunity to come together, share love, and cherish the bonds that unite us as a community. “In the spirit of the season, let us continue to embody kindness, generosity, and hope as we look ahead to the new year,” he added. “I am deeply grateful for the privilege of representing such a vibrant and diverse district, and I remain committed to serving you with dedication and care. “From my family to yours, happy holidays and best wishes for ...

Surinamese citizens awoke to the sad news on Christmas Day after authorities confirmed the death of former military strongman and two-time elected president Desi Bouterse, almost a year after he went into hiding to avoid a 20-year jail sentence for mass murder committed 42 years ago. It is unclear as to exactly where and how Bouterse, 79, had died and how his lifeless body ended up in his riverside home, which was being closely watched by authorities for clues to his hiding place. His death sometime on Christmas Eve came just days after police had stepped up raids of possible hiding places of Bouterse, who had disappeared in mid-January, hours before he, trusted bodyguard Iwan Dijksteel, and three others convicted for the December 1982 mass murders of 15 government opponents, were scheduled to surrender to authorities to begin serving sentences. [caption id="attachment_69355" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Relatives of victims of the December mu...