FREE www.caribbeanlifenews.com BROOKLYN/STATEN ISLAND EDITION August 19-25, 2016 GUYANA AWAITS OIL $$ The South American country prepares for transformation, oil wealth By Bert Wilkinson the country’s newest cash cow Last week, Guyana’s main sector will realize there are fre- opposition party accused gov- netic preparations in the run ernment of doing very little to up to 2020. get key infrastructural projects “We are sending or have sent going and spur employment, a number of our staff for train- suggesting that the adminis- ing in a number of areas, from tration is hedging all its bets petroleum law, to petroleum Grenadian Ranisha McMeo portrays Greenz United’s “OASIS.” Photo by Nelson A. King on the massive oil and gas find engineering among other areas off the coast. and will soon have to separate This is despite the fact that the oil unit from the geology U.S.-owned Exxon Mobil which and mines commission as they WIADCA launches 49th carnival first declared that it had found would need to be apart,” said a humungous oil well at a loca- agency Director Newell Den- By Nelson A. King bean, One People, One Voice.” on Labor Day, along Eastern tion 150 miles offshore, will not nison. With much fanfare, the West Several area representatives Parkway, one of Brooklyn’s likely pump the first barrel of Laws dealing mostly with Indian American Day Carni- joined carnival officials, other major thoroughfares. oil before 2020. regulating exploration rather val Association (WIADCA) on dignitaries and masqueraders “I think it’s great for Amer- As the days went by gov- than production companies are Thursday, Aug. 11 launched in the launch of the extrava- ica, for the culture and herit- ernment has not done very to be overhauled and local uni- its 49th annual carnival at the ganza that gets in full steam age of the Caribbean,” said much by way of answering the versities are being reoriented to Brooklyn Children’s Museum, on Thursday, Sept. 1, culmi- State Sen. Jessie Hamilton, opposition charges but a chat deal more with engineering under the theme, “One Carib- nating with the grand parade Continued on Page 3 with anyone connected with Continued on Page 6 e Brooklyn Elder e Serve Th ly And Adu W lt nity In A Comfortable, Compas mmu sionat o e C , ring, Cultural En Ca viro g, nm in v en o t L Accepted Managed Services k a C e Care Programs: p r e We Provide: S o e l Aetna e W Community Trips Agewell New York Alpha Care Pastoral Care Centerlight Center Plan For Healthy Living Daily Ethnic Foods Elder Serve Health Beauty Salon Services (River Spring Home) Free Door To Door Elder Plan Extended Transportation Fidelis Social Activities Guildnet Integra Birthday Celebrations Independence Cultural Activities Care System Senior Health Partners Computer Classes Senior Whole Health Of New York ESL Program Vns Choice Concerts Village CarEmax Wellcare Entertainment Medicaid Managed Care Program Assistance We Are Open 7 Days A Week, Two Shifts Daily !VENUE.s"ROOKLYN .EW9ORK Call us: (718) 513–1818 2 Caribbean Life, August 19-25, 2016 B Congresswoman Clarke calls on expatriats to vote WIADCA President Bill Howard speaking with Trinidad and Toba- go New York Consul Gen. Urvashi Ramnarine. Photo by Nelson A. King West Indian American Carnival Continued from page 1 representative for the 20th Senato- rial District in Brooklyn, in a Car- ibbean Life interview, as DJ Colin Gilbert struck up gyrating Caribbean rhythms. “We want to introduce the culture in the schools, so people can understand what’s going on.” Stephanie Hill Wilchfort, president and chief executive officer of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, said she was delighted to host the launch for the very first time. “The parade is the most important event in Crown Heights,” she also told Caribbean Life. “They are our neighbors. We could not be more thrilled in hosting this. We’re grateful that WIADCA chose us.” Trinidadian Jean P. Alexander, WIADCA board secretary and direc- tor of public relations and market- ing, said, except for the previous two Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke addressing a Guyanese audience at Brooklyn Borough Hall recently. years, when the launch was held at Photo by Tangerine Clarke Brooklyn Borough Hall, the event was held for three decades at Gracie By Tangerine Clarke people, and then you don’t show up wonderful to commemorate the growth Mansion on the Upper East Side in Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke to vote, and embarrass me,” quipped and development of your nation,” she Manhattan. (D-Brooklyn) called on Guyanese to go Clarke, adding, “I want everyone who added. “It’s wonderful because carnival out and vote, and to take along anyone has a vote, to go out and vote and take Also honoring the Republic’s Inde- needs open space,” she said about the registered to vote during her address at someone with you to the polls.” pendence Anniversary, Clarke said, new venue. the Guyana’s Tri-State Alliance’s 25th The hugely popular politician, who “Guyana is 50 years old and going Alexander, who has been a WIADCA Anniversary at Brooklyn Borough Hall represents the 9th Congressional Dis- strong. You faced challenges, but be member for 40 years, said more than recently. trict in Brooklyn, said she is honored encouraged that your souvenir nation 45 adult and 40 children bands will “I want to remind you that you have to represent such a diverse district, and continues to grow from strength to participate in the carnival, which will an obligation to get out and vote, and was full of praise for the expatriates, strength. You have embraced the demo- also feature 12 steel bands, including if you want to know how you could be saying that Guyanese are an exception- cratic values and you will continue to one each from Toronto and Philadel- an influence between the United States al, and beautiful group of immigrants grow as a nation, unique in your own phia. and Guyana, know that it is exercis- who she represents. culture, and your talent to be proud of, She said 10,000 costumed mas- ing your franchise here in the United “Guyanese Americans embrace and I am certainly proud to represent queraders and more than three mil- States, as many other immigrant com- strong ties with their heritage. They you,” she added. lion spectators are expected to con- munities have done, that make a dif- hold many cultural events for members, “I brag and I boast, that I have one verge on Eastern Parkway on Labor ference between the U.S. and other and the strong ties between Guyana and of the most extraordinary constituen- Day for the grand parade. nations from which they hail.” the Untied States have allowed stronger cies, and you add significantly to that “We’re going to have a very secured “I want to urge you, and I want to ties with the Caribbean,” said the rep- ability to brag and boast,” added Con- and safe carnival,” Alexander said. beseech you. We can make a differ- resentative. gresswoman Clarke, a vocal opponent “We want the world to know that — ence. I don’t want it to be said that I “It is an honor and privilege to repre- of issues that negatively affect the com- plenty, plenty mas.” am always bragging about Caribbean sent you in Washington DC. It is just as munity in which she serves. BQ Caribbean Life, August 19-25, 2016 3 Updated daily at www.caribbeanlifenews.com CARIBBEAN ROUNDUP THE NEWS FROM BACK HOME Antigua The Centers of Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) has issued a Zika virus travel notice for Antigua and Bar- buda and the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) following reported local mosquito transmission of the infection. Local mosquito transmission means that mosquitoes in the area are infected with the Zika virus and are spreading to people. Because the Zika virus is primarily spread by mosquitoes, the CDC is recom- mending that travelers to Antigua and Barbu- da protect themselves from mosquito bites. There is no vaccine or medication for Zika virus and the best way to avoid the infection is to prevent mosquito bites, the CDC said. It said some travelers to areas with Zika will become infected while traveling but will not become sick until they return home and they might not have any symptoms, The CDC also stated that sexual Cheers to Kirani and Lashawn transmission of Zika virus from a male partner is also possible. Grenada’s Kirani James (left) and United States’ Lashawn Merritt celebrate after winning silver and bronze respectively during the There is also the Gillian-Barre syn- athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016. drome (GBS), a rare disorder that can Associated Press/ Lee Jin-man cause muscle weakness and paralysis for a few weeks to several month, which United States and France. many changes and investments would Dominica remain suspended until fur- is very likely triggered by Zika in a small The bank is predicting that the have to be made, including visa exemp- ther notice. proportion of infections, much as it is number of Chinese tourists would dou- tions for Chinese nationals. Chief Executive Officer David Evans after a variety of other infections. Most ble by 2020. applauded the government and people people fully recover from GBS, but It said the main constraints on Chi- Dominica of Dominica for their resilience over the some have permanent damage. nese tourism outside Asia are said to Regional airline, LIAT will resume past several weeks citing their tireless be the cost of long-haul travel and the flights to and from the Douglas Charles efforts to get the country back to a state Bahamas limited amount of vacation time the Airport in Dominica starting Friday of normalcy following the storm.