Blog Posts

ICA CONDEMNS LATEST BIAS ATTACK AGAINST GUYANESE- AMERICAN, CALLS FOR HATE CRIME INVESTIGATION

6/7/2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2016

Contact:
Kenrick Ross, Executive Director
ken@indocaribbean.org
201-780-3614

On June 1, 2016, 59-year old Guyanese-American Mohamid Rasheed Khan was viciously attacked in Queens Village shortly after leaving his mosque. Indo-Caribbean Alliance, Inc. condemns this bias attack and calls on the New York City Police Department to investigate it as a possible hate crime. While Mr. Khan recovers from his serious injuries, we stand in solidarity with him, his family, and fellow community organizations in demanding justice and raising awareness of this and other acts of violence
against Guyanese-Americans in recent months.

On April 27th, a Guyanese-American teenager was brutally beaten in Astoria, Queens by three young men who shouted ‘ISIS’ as they punched him and threatened him with a metal pipe and bat. Over last Thanksgiving, the home of a Guyanese-American family in Woodhaven was desecrated when an assailant torched 50 jhandi flags in their front yard.

“Any kind of bias attack, no matter the specific target, is unacceptable. The perpetuators must be held accountable. Those who foment a climate of intolerance must also be held accountable,” said ICA Executive Director Kenrick Ross. “We as a community must also be vigilant and visible in demanding justice and not only in one particular case or for one particular group but justice for all. None of us are truly safe and secure in our communities until all of us are.”

ICA will continue to work with our partners in the community, our Indo-Caribbean Roundtable of community stakeholders, and our elected officials to ensure justice for Mr. Khan.

About Indo-Caribbean Alliance, Inc.
Indo-Caribbean Alliance (ICA) is United States registered non-profit organization based in Queens, New York. It was founded in 2008 by three residents who wanted to organize their community to create the programs and services in the underserved Indo-Caribbean and South Asian enclaves in New York City. Our mission is to unify and advance Indo-Caribbean and South Asian interests by fostering joint and collaborative actions among different peoples, organizations and businesses. With a booming population,
especially in New York City, we act as a liaison and an advocate to government agencies, elected officials and other non-profit organizations to create specialized educational, arts and social service programs. ICA runs the only secular community center for the Indo-Caribbean community and provides a wider range of direct programs, services and advocacy.

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The Terry Gajraj Story

3/30/2016

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By Roshan Shiwcharran, Guyanachunes.Com

Heart pounding, butterflies out of control, Terry Gajraj paced back and forth nervously backstage at the Brightstar Productions “Indo-Caribbean Show” in Toronto, Canada. He was about to share the stage for the very first time with many of his idols to sing in front of 8,000 hungry fans. This moment forever changed his life.

“When I stepped on that stage, I felt like I was struck by lightning,” recalls the artist who was representing Guyana at the All Star Concert. “I had that aha moment of OMG! This is what I want to do for the rest of my life!” Gajraj never stopped.

He has dominated the Guyanese music scene for the past 25 years. He released his debut album “Soca Lambada” in 1990 but it was “Guyana Baboo” in 1994 that established him as a household name and propelled him to International acclaim. As a son of the soil, Terry is the most toured artiste to emerge out of Guyana and whose success in promoting Guyanese music and culture around the world remains unmatched.

Here are some brief highlights of an eventful career:
1- Guyana’s most recorded artiste with more than 30 albums and hundreds of songs.
2- TerryG is the only singer from Guyana who has been performing globally every single week, every single month, every single year for over 20 years, non-stop (since his monster hit “Guyana Baboo” in 1994). Guyana’s most consistent artiste.
3- Performed off Broadway in “West Indian Dreams” in Manhattan, NY.
4- Guyana’s most toured singer (performs in all the major cities and countries including the Caribbean, Suriname, Holland, India, UK & Spain). One of his most prestigious shows was at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Gajraj consistently adds a new country & new city every year to his touring circuit.
5- He is the first singer from the Caribbean to perform at the BOLLYWOOD Music Awards, the Indian equivalent of the Grammys.
6- TerryG has represented Guyana in all the major carnivals in the world including Labor Day (NY), Caribana (Canada), Miami Carnival, Virgin Islands (Tortola), Notting Hill (London) and Trinidad (Spektakula Tent).
7- He created the “Screw the lightbulb” Indian Dance and introduced the “Call and Response” style to Guyanese Chutney music thereby making it more interactive, exciting and popular. He has thrilled the worldwide audience with his brand of Guyanese music & culture and spread the sounds of Guyana beyond our borders.
8-TerryG is the first Guyanese artiste to have his own professional website www.TerryGajraj.com. When promoters want a Guyanese entertainer, the firstst name that pops up is Terry “Guyana Baboo” Gajraj.
9- Unlike many artistes who crossover and hide their Guyanese roots, Gajraj proudly waves his Guyanese flag at all his performances and showcases his trademark one finger pose representing 1 People, 1 Nation, 1 Destiny.
10- Gajraj does a weekly TV show on Time Warner ch 96 in NYC every Saturday at 7 pm.
11- Collaborates with young Guyanese artistes to give them a taste of stardom and promote the future of Guyanese music.
12- Since the inception of his singing career. TerryG has consistently donated at least one free performance every month for various charitable groups.

He has further embraced his role model status as a celebrity spokesman for the Save Abee Charitable Foundation for Kids in Guyana. For the past five years, Terry and the Save Abee Team has organized many fundraisers in Canada & USA with proceeds being used to educate kids in computer technology. It has evolved with success, to not only represent his ideals to give back to those in need, but most importantly to showcase the goodwill and strong community spirit of the Guyanese people that Gajraj represents as their musical ambassador.

Gajraj grew up in Fyrish Village, Guyana. As a poor country boy, he had no TV in his home, so his only entertainment was learning to play every single musical instrument he could get his hands on.
Having no TV was a blessing in disguise. Dance-inspiring Soca Chutney rhythms and a knack for Guyanese lyrics have made the charismatic Gajraj one of Guyana’s most successful vocalists.
That poor country boy is now an international star who has made an indelible mark on the musical history of Guyana.
“Yuh Can Tek Me Outta Guyana, But You Kyan Tek Guyana Outta Me” TerryG.

Some of Terry’s upcoming performances:  Orlando, FL - Chutney Soca Brass (March)
 Suriname, Paramaribo (March)
 Guyana National Stadium - Phagwah
 Bronx, NY (March)
 Richmond Hill, NY - Phagwah Parade (March)
 Somerset, NJ - Phagwah Dance (March)
 Queens, NY (April )
 Boston, MA (April)
 Montreal, Canada (April)
 Trinidad, WI - Mother’s Day (May)
 St. Maarten, WI - Chutney Soca Fest (May)
 Jamaica, NY (May)
 Cayman Islands, WI - GACI Dinner & Dance (June)
 Hartford, CT (June)
New 2016 songs:“Buss Peppa” ft Shakti
“Tek Way Yuh Gyal” ft Rikki Jai
“Weakness For Sweetness” ft Ta.V.Ta
“Larkhi” ft A9
Releasing soon:“Guyana 50th Tribute” Angels Band
“Pati Patna” Guyanese Traditional
“Girl You Turn Me On” ft Keri
“Tequilla” ft Prince Bengal & many more for the summer
“PACK UP ME GRIP & LEH ME GO”

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Top 10 Moments of 2015

12/29/2015

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10. Mohan Jaikaran, founder of Calypso City, dies
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Mohan Jaikaran passed away in April at age 64. Mr. Jaikaran moved to the United States from his native Trinidad in the 1970s as a teenager. After years of working in the garment industry, he began the iconic Queens nightclub “Calypso City,” now known as Maracas. The venue is credited with introducing soca, chutney, calypso and Bollywood artists and music to an American audience. Mr. Jaikaran also owned the Caribbean media empire, WIN Communications Network, and was Vice Chairperson of Caribbean Airlines. His passing created an outpouring of grief and messages of condolences, including a note from the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

Mr. Jaikaran is survived by his wife, four children and grandchildren who funded a Diwali Essay Competition for students in his honor.

Mr. Jaikaran, his wife Indra, and their grandchildren

9. Gay rights at the grassroots
A team of community organizers and advocates created The Caribbean Equality Project to increase education and tolerance for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals in the Indo-Caribbean and pan-Caribbean community. The organization launched in August at Queens Museum with a powerful and deeply personal campaign on the internal and external struggles faced by the LGBTQ communities. The organization is poised to foster understanding and respect by focusing on sharing human experiences through storytelling, conducting workshops in public schools, and creating support groups.

8. Eid mubarak, indeed
Mayor Bill de Blasio declared that all New York City public schools will be closed in observance of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha, a welcome relief to thousands of families across the city. Using statistics, public awareness, and back-door-dealings, the coalition that successfully pushed the initiative through, over several years and multiple mayors, also created a movement made up of labor unions, interfaith leaders, and nonprofit organizations. While this was a positive step in the Indo-Caribbean community, many Hindus felt disregarded. Hindus renewed demands for Diwali, the festival of lights, to also be included as a public school holiday.

Photo: Masjid Al Abidin/Facebook

7. #WeAreOne Rally
In response to the burning of dozens of jhandi flags at a home in Woodhaven, Queens, several organizations, led by Aminta Kilawan from Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindues, banded together to call for increased tolerance. The demand for tolerance saw the community coming together with elected officials from the Federal, State and City levels on a scale perhaps like never before. The rally was also widely covered in local media although a suspect is yet to apprehend. The incident followed a series of other attacks on Sikhs and Muslims across the City.

Sadhana was featured on ICA's Top 10 list in 2014.

Photo: Sadhana/Facebook

6. Amar Ramasar, a ballet dancer, takes center stage
Amar Ramasar received wide critical acclaim and was even featured in the New York Times for his role in “Agon,” the 1957 George Balanchine ballet, performed by the celebrated New York City Ballet company at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. Mr. Ramesar has been a principal dancer at the City Ballet since 2009, where he is one of the few people of color, and has danced in “Agon” since 2011.

Mr. Ramesar was born in the Bronx and studied at the School of American Ballet. His father is Indo-Trinidadian and his mother is Puerto Rican.

Photo: Henry Leutwyler

5. Indians voted out of office in Guyana and Trinidad
For the first time in several decades, an Indo-Caribbean person is not the leader of a single government in the Caribbean. The ruling party in Guyana since 1992, PPP/C, lost the Presidency after having lost control of the Parliament in the previous election. In Trinidad, the UNC’s rising sun coalition led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s lost to the opposition PNM. Both elections galvanized hundreds of thousands of supporters among the diaspora in New York City with fundraisers, debates, and high-level visits. While some say Indians were voted out of office, others say newer generations of multiracial coalitions have taken their place. Perhaps it will allow the diaspora to focus on politics at home, right here in New York City.

Former President Donald Ramotar campaigning in Richmond Hill, Queens

4. Raj Rampershad, first Indo-Caribbean community board chairperson
In March 2015, after a tumultuous year, Queens Community Board 9 unanimously elected Raj Rampershad as Chairperson, the first Indo-Caribbean person in New York City, and perhaps also the first South Asian, to be elected to such a position. Mr. Rampershad has been a volunteer of Community Board 9 for ten years and has previously served on several committees, including the Executive Committee. Mr. Rampershad has a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the Pratt Institute and works full time at an architectural firm while completing his architecture license. Before it was sold earlier this year, Mr. Rampershad was the cashier at his family’s grocery store on Liberty Avenue, which they operated for 25 years.

Mr. Rampershad was born in Manhattan in 1976. His parents were born in Guyana and moved to New York City in the 1960s. Mr. Rampershad lives in Richmond Hill and intends to complete his first children’s book in the near future.

Mr. Rampershad previously served on the host committee for ICA's gala.

Photo: Luis Gronda for Queens Tribune

3. Rajiv Mohabir has a way with words
Rajiv Mohabir completed his first full-length collection of poems entitled, The Taxidermist’s Cut, which earned him the Intro Prize in Poetry by Four Way Books, a respected publishing house, as well the 2015 AWP Intro Journal Award. In 2015, Mr. Mohabir was also awarded a PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grant for his translation of Lalbihari Sharma’s Holi Songs of Demerara, originally published in 1916. Mr. Sharma was an indentured laborer, as well as a singer and a musician, on the sugarcane fields in Guyana. He was the first Indo-Caribbean writer to write and publish in his native dialect, a mix of Bhojpuri and Awadhi.

Mr. Mohabir has a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from the University of Florida, a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from CUNY Queens College, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate at the University of Hawaii. He was also a teacher at John Adams High School in Queens. He is fluent in Hindi, Bhojpuri and a dying language known as “Guyanese Hindi.” Mr. Mohabir was born in London and moved to the United States at two years old with his parents, older brother, and younger sister. His family is from Crabwood Creek and Georgetown in Guyana.

The Taxidermist's Cut will be available in 2016. Mr. Mohabir previously taught Hindi classes for ICA.

Mr. Mohabir at the Indo-Caribbean Special Collection at the Lefferts Branch of Queens Library

2. The year spring didn’t come

After 27 years, the Annual Phagwah Parade, the largest Indo-Caribbean and South Asian event in the country, was suddenly cancelled by the organizers. It is estimated that 80,000 people attended the parade in 2013, the parade’s 25th anniversary. Days before this year’s parade, without any notice to the community, leaked legal documents began to circulate on social media displaying the divisions that had emerged among the organizers. A group of elderly men, one side led by Dharmacharya Rishi Misir of the Hindu Parades and Festivals Committee, and the other by Dharmacharya Pandit Ramlall of the Arya Spiritual Center, wrestled for control of the organizing committee of the parade. After proudly working together to build one of the most impressive community events in New York City, the parade was initially postponed and then, finally, cancelled. Although the dispute appears to be settled in court, the upcoming 2016 parade remains uncertain. The split between the organizers has also caused the disruption of several other events, including the Annual Mahatma Ghandi Peace March and Ramayan in the Park.

This dispute follows the legal troubles at several major mandirs including Bhuvaneshwar, co-founded by iconic Pandit Shri Praksh Gossai; Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, which started in the 1970s and is perhaps the earliest mandir in Little Guyana; and USA Pandit Parishad, which was forced to close its doors after over 40 years.

ICA has been a proud participant in every Phagwah Parade since 2010.

1. Introducing Senator Persaud

In November 2015, Canarsie, Brooklyn elected Roxanne J. Persaud, the highest ranking and only South Asian/Indo-Caribbean in public office in New York State, to represent the 19th Senate District. Senator Persaud was previously an Assembly Member for the 59th Assembly District. She has spent many years working in higher education administration, including as Registrar at St. Francis College. In addition, she served as President of her local Police Precinct Council; she was a member of Community Board 18; and she served as a Commissioner at the important 2012 Redistricting Commission, which was tasked with drawing the City’s political boundaries. Her priorities in the Senate include fostering safer communities, lobbying for affordable housing, funding for schools and libraries, and increasing senior services.

Senator Persaud was born and raised in the Cummingsburg section of Georgetown, Guyana. She has six siblings and is of mixed Indo- and Afro-Guyanese descent.

She was previously #3 on our Top Ten list for 2014.

Photo: Roxanne Jacqueline Persaud/Facebook

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Please let us know if we forgot something. Share your feedback, add to the list and/or repost.

The list is only meant to spark discussion and reflection. In the interest of full disclosure, we explained our participation in different events while we intentionally excluded ICA's core initiatives to offer an objective perspective.

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ICA Condemns Woodhaven Hate Crime, Partners with #WEAREONE Rally

12/2/2015

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On Thanksgiving an Indo-Caribbean family in Woodhaven, Queens was the victim of a hate crime when more than 40 “jhandi” flags in their yard were set on fire. The jhandi flag is a highly visible, quintessential marker of Indo-Caribbean culture that transcends religion, ethnicity, and race. Made of bamboo and colorful pieces of cloth that symbolize Hindu deities, jhandi flags are placed next to a home’s private temple or in its yard after a Hindu religious ceremony, or pooja. They are commonplace in the Caribbean, notably in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, and Jamaica, and the Caribbean Diaspora, but rare in South Asia.

The Indo-Caribbean Alliance, Inc. (ICA) is deeply concerned about this attack on the security, safety, and freedom of expression of our community. We are proud to partner with Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus and other community organizations and stakeholders in organizing a rally on Friday, December 4, 2015 to show solidarity with the family and ensure accountability for this crime.

The #WEAREONE rally will be held on Friday, December 4, 2015 at 7PM at the intersection of 89th Avenue and 80th Street in Woodhaven.

ICA calls for a thorough and speedy investigation of this crime and encourages anyone with additional information to come forward. “When one person or family is targeted in our community and they are made to feel unsafe, no one in our community is safe”, said ICA Executive Director Kenrick Ross. “As we promote multicultural dialogue and foster tolerance and understanding, let us also be clear that the onus is not on minorities, immigrants, and communities of color to justify why they should be treated with basic fairness, dignity, and respect. It is rather on all of us, particularly public figures, to ensure that we create environments which are inclusive, tolerant, and supportive.”

We are proud to have our elected officials share our concerns and stand with our community.

“Crimes which target religious expression are hate crimes, and should be treated as such,” said Councilman Eric Ulrich. “Whoever is responsible for the burning of these flags must be held accountable. We simply cannot tolerate any form of religious persecution.”

Assemblyman Mike Miller stated, “In our community, we pride ourselves in our diversity and welcome individuals of all faiths and backgrounds. Our compassion for one another is what ultimately unites us together during times of tragedy and it is also what makes our community so unique. When I received news that someone had burned more than three dozen religious flags on Thanksgiving morning, I was in disbelief to hear that it happened so close to home. I want to condemn the actions of this individual and ask everyone of all faiths in our community come together in solidarity against any form of flag burning such as what happened here in Woodhaven. As we move forward, we will not let incidents such as this one change our acceptance and tolerance for all faiths and backgrounds in our community nor should we live in fear of ignorant acts such as the one this criminal committed. I urge anyone with any information to please reach out to the NYPD. Thank you.”

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Filmmaker Ian Harnarine Joins ICA

11/16/2015

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Meet Ian Harnarine who joined ICA as a volunteer tutor and mentor to students in our youth programs. Ian was born in Toronto to Trinidadian parents. He studied physics at York University and the University of Illinois. He has an MFA from NYU’s Graduate Film School where he now teaches along with the Physics Department. Ian's film "Doubles With Slight Pepper" won the Toronto International Film Festival and the Canadian Academy Award.

                           Q & A
1) Why did you choose to volunteer with ICA?
I wanted to get involved with a grassroots organization that was trying to affect change within the Indo-Caribbean community.

2) What do you get of it?
Since I didn't grow up in Queens and don't really have any close family in the area, it also allows me to feel connected to Indo-Caribbean culture and the community.

3) Can you give an example of when you felt your help made a difference?
I can honestly say that every week at tutoring, I notice something new with the students that come. Whether it's helping them with a math problem, or just talking to them about their lives, I hope they get as much out of it as I do.

4) What surprised you the most about volunteering at ICA?
The dedication of the other volunteers and how much everyone cares about helping the community.

5) What's the most Indo-Caribbean thing about you?
I'm a huge fan of the food!

6) What are you three favorite films?
This changes all the time, but right now:
      - The Thin Red Line
      - Do the Right Thing
      - Bim (look it up if you haven't heard of it!)

We're thrilled to have Ian's support! To learn more about our youth programs, click here. To volunteer, send us an email at team@indocaribbean.org and let us know how you would like to be involved.

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Cheers to volunteerism!

7/29/2015

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This week we said farewell to an important volunteer, Michael Henry, who is leaving the organization to pursue his MBA at Pepperdine University in California. Michael has been with ICA for over 4 years. During this period, he devoted hundreds of hours of his personal time to help the organization and our community with fundraising, with program development, social media and our newsletter. He also made a lasting impact on our community and with the people he built lasting relationships with. Like all of us, he wore many hats and was always willing to help in any way.

We wish him the best of luck on the West Coast and we will continue the work he started at ICA.

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Rhona Fox will Host ICA's 2015 Gala

7/20/2015

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This year's gala host is actress Rhona Fox who hails from Guyana. Rhona has appeared in Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC), Ugly Betty (ABC), The Good Wife (CBS), Royal Pains (USA), and has worked as a stand-in for Hollywood's top Indian actresses, like Mindy Kaling, on The Mindy Project (FOX).
Rhona's career also includes news production, music media-marketing representing clients such as Pitbull, Lil Jon and Shaggy, and appearing in the Roc-A-Wear 10th anniversary commercial and in an iPod crossbranding promotion for the syndication of Seinfeld on FOX.

"It's an honor to participate in the Indo-Caribbean Alliance's third annual gala, as they raise funds to continue providing programs, resources and aid to our community here in the United States" states Rhona Fox.

In June 2013, Rhona received The Rising Sun Award at the Caribbean Heritage Organization's Tribute to Hollywood & The Arts Gala in
Universal City, California, where she was recognized as an emerging
actor of Caribbean heritage.

For more about Rhona click here.

For more about our 3rd Annual gala entitled "UNANCHORED", click here.

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Singh’s Sporting Goods, for Cricket’s Serious Bowlers and Wicketkeepers

6/23/2015

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The arrival of summer also marks the opening of New York's vibrant cricket season. In this article, The New York Times profiles "Singh's Sporting Goods" a small cricket shop that serves locals, foreign tourists and some of the world's leading cricket players.

Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/21/nyregion/singhs-sporting-goods-specializes-in-cricket-gear.html

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Amar Ramasar’s Unlikely Path to Becoming a Prince for City Ballet

6/10/2015

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Andrea Mohin/The New York Times

The New York Times profiles the accomplished ballet dancer Amar Ramasar who is of Indo-Trinidadian and Puerto Rican ancestry, "Mr. Ramasar commuted every day from his school in the Bronx to ballet classes in Manhattan, taking his place at the barre among boys as young as 6. “I had a lot of catch-up to do, because I started so late,” he said. “I would look around and see all these boys who were turned-out and beautiful, and I was just a clumsy Bronx boy. It took a lot of willpower.”

To read the full article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/arts/dance/amar-ramasars-unlikely-path-to-becoming-a-prince-for-city-ballet.html?_r=0

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Top 10 Indo-Caribbean Moments of 2014

12/31/2014

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Photo via Facebook/Romeo Mystic Nermal

10. Screw the light bulb anyone?

Guyanese sensation Romeo Nermal a.k.a. Mystic released the song "Coolie Boi Dance" which quickly became a hit playing at every turn. The song is accompanied by a dance routine that mimic's the way some Indo-Caribbeans dance to Indian and Calypso music commonly referred to as "screwing the light bulb". It is similar to other recent hits like Soulja Boy "Crank That" and "Gangham Style" by pop star Psy. With several hundred thousand views on YouTube alone, this song is perhaps the song of the year.

Check out the video

Photo via indocaribbean.org

9. Joseph Beer is sentenced

In August, Joseph Beer was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for the deaths of four of his friends in a devastating car accident in Long Island in 2012. Beer, 17 years old at the time of the accident, and his friends were students at Richmond Hill High School. The accident brought the community to its knees in mourning with hundreds attending the funerals and community candle light vigils. It also brought deep introspection about what some see as a pervasive car culture among Indo-Caribbean boys and a debate about marijuana use.

This was the number #1 issue in our Top 10 List of 2012.

Photo by Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus

8. What happens after Hindus make offerings at Jamaica Bay?

In April, an organization called Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus launched a series of environmental awareness drives that included clean up efforts in partnership with the U.S. National Park Service and the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance at Jamaica Bay. To spread further awareness and education, part of what they called "Project Prithvi", Sandhana co-created a landmark exhibit called "Sacred Waters: A Collection of Hindu Offerings from Jamaica Bay" which was on display at the new Queens Museum of Art for several months. The exhibit showcases religious items discovered on the beaches of Jamaica Bay. The organization plans to continue cleaning up the Rockaway waterfront in 2015.

Photo via Facebook /indocaribbean

7. Demand Action on Climate Change

In advance of the the United Nations General Assembly in New York City in September, over 400,000 people took to the streets of Manhattan to call attention to global climate change and the impact on local communities. This march, the largest of its kind in history, served as a public statement to world leaders, including President Obama, that we cannot turn a blind eye to climate change and pollution which disproportionately impacts poor, minority communities. ICA and several South Asian partner organizations also marched with dozens of our volunteers.

Photo via Facebook /mahadeo.shivraj

6. Mahadeo Shivraj Day in Schenectady, NY

The Office of the Mayor of Schenectady, New York, issued an official proclamation declaring November 30, 2014 as MahadeoShivraj Day. Shivraj, a native of Guyana, was recognized for his outstanding work as an actor, director, and producer and his overall dedication to the arts. Shivraj is perhaps the best known Indo-Caribbean filmmaker having produced, directed, and starred in "A Jasmine for a Gardener", "Brown Sugar Too Bitter for me", and "83 Million Gees".

Schenectady is also the first City in New York State to elect an Indo-Caribbean to public office. Last year John Mootoovenern was elected to the City Council. The City has a significant and growing Indo-Caribbean, Guyanese population.

Photo by Double 00 Photography

5. Miss Guyana 2014 enters Miss World Top 10 finals - the first time in over 40 years

Miss Guyana 2014, Rafieya Husain, landed as one of the top 10 contestants for the Miss World 2014 competition in December. This marks the first time in over 40 years for a Miss Guyana contestant to make it this far in the pageant. Rafieya made domestic violence her platform bringing additional attention to an issue that continues to plague many households and relationships.

Rafieya lives in Queens, New York and graciously lent her support to ICA's Annual Gala in June.

4. Community loses Jimmy Maharaj & Frankie Sooknanan

On January 9th, Jimmy Maharaj, passed away after a prolonged illness at age 63. Jimmy was the founder and owner of the iconic Trinidadian roti shop named Sandy's after his daughter. Jimmy was also a fixture in the cricket community - an avid cricket player and supporter of multiple teams. For his service to the community, the Jamaica Rotary Club presented Jimmy it's highest award, the Paul Adams Medal. Jimmy's funeral procession was also given a NYPD motorcade escort, a rare honor for a civilian.

On August 3rd, comedian Frankie Sooknanan also passed away unexpectedly at age 34. Frankie was a co-founder of Flat Tire Productions, an Indo-Caribbean production house that creates original content to reflect Indo-Caribbean heritage and promote performing arts. In 2004, Frankie produced a feature film, Sacrifice, that won Best Feature at the Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival in NYC. Frankie was called "Sundar" by friends also his namesake in the television show "Liberty Avenue Singles" which he co-created. Frankie was perhaps best known through the comedy troupe "Buttahflap" which performed at hundreds of shows in the community. Frankie was born in Suriname and graduated from New York University.

Both Jimmy & Frankie's presence will be deeply missed in the community but their accomplishments and legacy will continue on.

Photo via New York Cricket website

Photo via Flat Tire Productions website

Photo via New York State Assembly website

3. Roxanne Persaud is elected to the New York State Assembly
In November 2014, Roxanne Persaud made history when she was elected as the first female to represent the 59th Assembly District and the first Guyanese elected to the New York State Assembly. Assemblywoman Persaud is a longtime advocate for her community and an avid volunteer. She was born in Guyana to parents of Indo and Afro-Guyanese backgrounds. She migrated to the United States with her parents and siblings and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Assemblywoman Persaud has spent her entire career working in higher education institutions and works tirelessly encouraging urban youth to attend college. In 2012, she served as a member of the New York State redistricting commission (aka LATFOR) which was tasked with creating the political boundaries of each state elected official. Her district legislative priorities include funding for schools, youth and senior support services, libraries and parks.

Photo via Huffington Post

2. Shootings & Race Relations

The exoneration of police officers in the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York triggered a national movement of protests all over the country. This came after a string of other shootings of black men. In an apparent retaliation, two NYPDofficers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were murdered. The cycle of gun violence by police and civilians is tied to a complicated web of privilege, race, economic imbalances, education, an unfair judicial system and many other angles. Advocates for police and judicial reform are worried their agenda for change will be undone by the senseless murder of the NYPD officers.

Coming from countries where race, power and economic relations are also strained, Indo-Caribbeans are all too familiar with the cycle of violence. We are joining the thousands calling for reforms and peace to return to our communities.

Photo via The Newest New Yorkers Report

1. Guyanese and Trinidadians are the 3rd
largest immigrant group in New York City

The New York City Department of City Planning issued a detailed report showing that Guyanese are the second largest immigrant group in Queens and the fifth largest in New York City. Immigrants from Trinidad & Tobago ("Trinidad") occupy the eighth position. The report, The Newest New Yorkers, is based on data collected in the 2010 Census and the 2011 American Community Survey. Details on income, occupation, and neighborhood demographic is included. The data does not include thousands of Indo-Caribbeans who were born in New York City.
With such a large combined population, Indo-Caribbeans from Guyana and Trinidad, and other Caribbean countries, have the propensity to work closely together for social, political and economic development.

Read the snapshot ICA produced: Population Analysis of Guyanese and Trinidadians in NYC

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