Remembering Our Fallen Heroes Do with a Raging Debate in the “There Are Too Many Laws Country As to What Age a Child Concerning Children That Are by Nelson A
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FREE www.caribbeanlifenews.com BROOKLYN/STATEN ISLAND EDITION June 3-9, 2016 TOO YOUNG TO WED Catholics, Hindus clash over child brides in Trinidad By Bert Wilkinson before becoming teenagers. While authorities in Trini- Independent Senator Helen dad are battling to stabilize Drayton, for example, argues the petroleum-based econo- that the current legislation does A call for youth volunteers my from low world prices and not make any political, cultural security officials grapple with or moral sense as no one in Sister Claudette Muckett of Attributes of Christ Ministries plays the bass guitar. See runaway gun violence, a new Trinidad & Tobago is allowed story on page 18. Photo by Nelson A. King controversy is attracting the to adopt a child under age 25. attention of the administration Why therefore should a girl of Prime Minister Keith Row- now leaving primary school be ley. allowed to marry have kids and Surprisingly, it has much to attempt to run a household? Remembering our fallen heroes do with a raging debate in the “There are too many laws country as to what age a child concerning children that are By Nelson A. King freedoms, which many around The borough president said or young girl should be allowed contradictory. We need to be Several Brooklyn politicians the world are denied beneath his administration remains to marry legally. consistent with who is and who on Monday joined Americans the yoke of tyrannical rule, committed to all of the bor- Current colonial era laws is not a child. Every single bill all over in celebrating Memo- have come at a human cost,” ough’s veterans, as well as the allow a young, school aged I have seen there is a contra- rial Day. he added. “Each casualty of spouses, children and family child to wed an adult male as diction. There should be more “It is a somber day in which our nation’s wars represents a members “who survive our early as 12 but the Hindu com- acute attention paid to harmo- we remember our fallen heroes permanent hole in a grieving fallen heroes and she-roes, munity which has been in the ny across children’s legislation. — the men and women of our family’s heart.” whose memories will eternally forefront of the defense of the Aware that the blazing row military who loved liberty so Adams noted that more shine bright in the hearts of old laws, is making its presence could become a major political much that they made the ulti- than 11,000 Brooklynites of One Brooklyn.” felt on the issue by lashing out issue and an unnecessary dis- mate sacrifice while defend- the “Greatest Generation” Council Member Jumaane against advocates for change. traction at a time of econom- ing it for the rest of us,” said gave their lives during World D. Williams (D-Brooklyn), Sat Maharaj, the widely ic troubles and high crime, Brooklyn Borough President War II. deputy leader and chair of the acknowledged leader of Trini- Attorney General Faris Al Rawi Eric Adams. With close to one quarter Council’s Housing and Build- dad Hindus, went on the attack says the time to intervene has “It is important that we of a million veterans living ings Committee, said “we owe this week after the Catholic come. continue to enjoy our Amer- throughout New York City, our gratitude and respect” Church joined a growing list So he is calling in stake ican pastimes, like baseball he said Brooklyn “reveres its for the bravery and service of of people and groups demand- holders, including child rights and barbecues on this holi- heroes of the Armed Forces nation’s fallen heroes. ing that parliament moves with advocate, the bar association, day weekend, all while keep- and honors their lasting leg- “We also owe it to the fami- haste to repeal the older laws, senators to a meeting this week ing sight of the fact that these acy.” Continued on Page 14 which allow girls to marry even Continued on Page 14 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, June 3-9, 2016 BQ CARIBBEAN HERITAGE WEEK SALUTE The first Black U.S. shipmaster, Vincentian-born Captain Hugh Mulzac By Nelson A. King When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, it faced Singer, composer and guitarist a shortage of merchant mariners. With Irving Burgie performing at the supplies in desperate needs overseas a Giando on The Water catering massive sealift would require not only a house. Photo by Nelson A. King huge fleet of cargo ships, but the seafar- ers to sail them. “This opened the door a bit to black Songwriter mariners for a range of shipboard jobs. One of the most dramatic stories of this era involved shipmaster,” Vincentian- Irving born Hugh Mulzac, according to the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD). Born in the St. Vincent Grenadine Burgie’s huge island of Union on March 26, 1886, Mulzac went to sea after high school, sailing on British vessels. footprints Subsequently, he attended the Nau- tical School in Swansea, in the United By Les Slater Kingdom, earning a mate’s license, said There’s no doubt that his outstand- MARAD, adding that he sailed as a ing performance skills, as well as other ship’s officer in World War I, and came natural gifts, propelled Harry Belafonte to the United States, becoming a citizen to the high-flying success he enjoyed as in 1918. an entertainer decades ago. Equally is By 1920, Mulzac passed the exami- there no question about the immense nation as a U.S. shipmaster, but there credit to which singer-songwriter Irv- were no shipboard berths available to a ing Burgie is entitled for the major con- black captain. tribution he made toward Belafonte’s Although he held a master’s license, path to super-stardom. which qualified him to be a ship’s cap- Captain Hugh Nathaniel Mulzac. Wikimedia Commons Burgie wrote more than 30 songs tain, he worked for the next 20 years that Belafonte performed. Their col- mostly in the steward’s department of master of the new Liberty ship Booker With the war’s end, MARAD said laboration got going, back in the 1950s, various shipping lines. This was the T. Washington, christened by legendary Mulzac found himself “on the beach,” with the sort of bang most folks only only shipboard work he could find, and opera singer Marian Anderson. again the victim of discrimination. dream about. Of the 11 tracks on the he became an expert in food service Mulzac insisted on having an inte- Because of his involvement in the iconic 1956 RCA Belafonte album, management, according to MARAD. grated crew, not the all-black crew that 1930s in the labor union movement, Calypso, Burgie wrote eight of them. With the outbreak of World War had been planned. he also fell prey to the rampant McCa- Songs like “Day-O,” “Jamaica Fare- II, MARAD said Mulzac recognized an The U.S. Maritime Commission rthyism of the early 1950s, according well” and “Come Back Liza” performed opportunity to use his license and com- relented, according to MARAD, and the to MARAD. by Belafonte on the album would be mand a vessel. Booker T. Washington made 22 round- It said that it was not until 1960, anchored as mainstays in the Belafonte At 56, MARAD said he was named trip voyages with Mulzac at the helm. Continued on Page 9 repertoire for the remainder of his sing- ing career. And Calypso would proceed to make history as the first album of any kind to sell a million copies. More of Burgie’s songs followed in later Bela- Dr. Ivelaw Griffith appointed 10th UG chancellor fonte releases. Although born in Brooklyn, New By Tangerine Clarke fith as the ninth president of Fort Valle York, Burgie came by this affinity for Excellence and the pursuit of success State University. But despite his short Caribbean-oriented folk material more were engrained in Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Grif- stint, Griffith left an indelible mark on or less genetically. His mother was fith from a very early age while growing the landscape of the Valle campus. Barbadian, and linkage to his mother’s up in Georgetown, Guyana. Dr. Griffith, a New Yorker, served cultural roots would manifest itself in Professor Griffith, who will assume as professor of political science, prov- work he subsequently produced. Bur- office on June 14, 2016 as the 10th vice ost and senior vice president of York gie’s innate love of music, burnished by chancellor of the University of Guyana, College of The City University of New his studies at New York’s famed Juilliard created history as the first person to York, where he improved the faculty School, pointed him toward entertain- graduate with Distinction in Political by 30 percent over four years, by re- ing professionally and, using the stage Science in 1980 from the same uni- organizing the academic division into name Lord Burgess, he did the gig versity.