Pols, grand marshals and honors at Caribbean Carnival

A virtual Who’s Who in New York politics were on hand Monday during and after the Pre-Labor Day Breakfast, as the Brooklyn-based West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), organizer of the Caribbean Carnival Parade on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, facilitated the elected officials for speeches and photo opportunities during the massive spectacle.

Yolanda Lezama-Clark, center, display certificate from CIS founder and president Dr. Claire Nelson, second from left, flanked by left to right: Ann-marie Abramson, WIADCA Chairman Andrew Maloney and Francine Hakim. Photo by Nelson A. King

WIADCA, as well as the grand marshals and the Carlos Lezama Archives and Cultural Center, were honored with proclamations, citations, plaques and certificates by elected officials and others during the breakfast ceremony.

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso addresses Pre-Labor Day Breakfast ceremony. Photo by Nelson A. King

Among legislators at both the Pre-Parade Breakfast and gigantic parade were: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul; New York Attorney General Letitia James; US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer; House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries; US Rep. Yvette D. Clarke and her mother, former New York City Council Member Dr. Una S.T. Clarke; Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez; Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso; and Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson; Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.

Assembly Member Monique Chandler-Waterman gets ready for the Eastern Parkway. Photo by Nelson A. King

Others were: City Comptroller Brad Lander; Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; State Senators Zellnor Y. Myrie, Kevin Parker and Roxaane Persaud; State Assemblywomen Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Stefani L. Zinerman, Latrice Walker and Monique Chandler-Waterman; State Assemblyman Brian Cunningham; and City Council Members Farah N. Louis, Crystal Hudson and Rita Joseph.

As he greeted spectators with a bull horn on Eastern Parkway, Schumer looked at their waving, miniature flags and shouted: “Hello Jamaica, hello Trinidad and Tobago, Hello Grenada, hello St. Lucia.

“What’s the largest island in the Caribbean?” he asked.

When onlookers responded with their native islands, Schumer corrected them in jest: “No, Brooklyn” (to laughter).

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer with Ann-Marie Abramson, right, and Bishop Sulanch Lewis of Little Rock International Ministry on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. Photo by Nelson A. King

Before, at the Pre-Parade Breakfast, Schumer, Jeffries and almost all other elected officials urged attendees to vote in the Nov. 5 Presidential Elections, casting ballots for Vice President Kamala Harris, the daughter of retired Jamaican economist Dr. Donald Harris.

“It’s truly good that we come together to show the dynamic culture of the Caribbean,” said Congresswoman Clarke, representative for the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn. “This year, it’s a special reminder with this carnival. It brings me a sense of pride that another Caribbean American is atop the Democratic Party ticket.

“One thing I want you to do is go out and vote,” she urged. “Wherever you are, we need a generational shift and bring a new generation of leaders. So, we’re going out to do what?”

The crowd responded: “Vote!”

Walker, Clarke’s former chief of staff, also said: “We’re telling everyone to vote. This year is victory over the enemy.”

James said she would be proud to vote for “the next President of the United States, Kamala Harris.

Bichotte Hermelyn, the Haitian-American chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, said: “Brooklyn is not going back. When we fight, we win.”

Earlier on Monday, the representative for the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, said in a statement: “As the elections quickly approach, we encourage you to join us in supporting Kamala Harris’ and Tim Walz’s robust pro-worker and union policies.

“Let’s ensure VP (Vice President) Harris makes history in the White House while expanding opportunity, so that every American cannot just get by, but get ahead,” Bichotte Hermelyn added.

Levine said: “This is day we celebrate our island roots. We’re here to march for the next president. Happy West Indian American Day!”

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson addresses Pre-Labor Day Breakfast ceremony. Photo by Nelson A. King

Gibson, whose father hailed from Trinidad and Tobago, also said: We’re going to mash up the Parkway. This is a great time to come together. We have to vote. We have to make sure we elect the right leaders.”

Myrie, who represents the 20th State Senate District in Brooklyn, said he was the “proud son of two Caribbean parents.

“We must protect our culture,” he said. “We must vote this November.”

“So, when you see me wining down the Parkway, ‘leave me alone,’” added Myrie, alluding to a line in Timber’s popular soca hit, “Mind Yo Funky Business.”

Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, said he was “very proud to celebrate the Caribbean culture,” thanking WIACA for “all that you do.”

Hudson, representative for the 35th Council District in Brooklyn, who traces her roots to Jamaica, flanked by Joseph, said: “We’re all here to welcome our members to our parade.”

Then, Haitian-born Joseph, who represents the 40th Council District in Brooklyn, said: “I’m ready to mash it up. Are you ready?”

Attendees responded loudly: “Yeeees!”

Gonzalez said, “Brooklyn had the safest summer” this year, thanking the NYPD for helping to keep the city safe.

Deputy NYPD Commissioner Tonia Kinsella, who traced her roots to Guyana and Jamaica, was among NYPD officials at the ceremony.

NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey addresses the ceremony with WIADCA Consultant Ann-marie Abramson in the background. Photo by Nelson A. King

Monday’s Parade Grand Marshals, who received certificates from WIADCA and proclamation and citations from legislators, included: Trinidadians Hazra Ali, Caribbean community catalyst; Beverly Ramsey-Moore, president of Pan Trinbago; Dennis Francis, the Trinidadian-born president of the United Nations General Assembly; and Lawyer Jovia Radix-Seaborough, daughter of former New York City Corporation Counsel, Barbadian-born Sylvia Hinds-Radix, and Grenadian dentist Dr. Joseph Radix.

Others were:  Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty Insurance Company; Aaron “Voice” St. Louis, soca artist; Phil Taitt – WABC Eyewitness News reporter; Dr. Adrenia Burgis, community catalyst; and Glenn Turbull, president D’Midas Foundation/International.

Francis, who spoke on behalf of the Grand Marshals, said, “This celebration is about all of us. It’s a celebration of who we are as a people.

“This West Indian American Carnival contributes significantly to the economy of New York,” he added. “It’s about building the business potential of the community.”

Yolanda Lezama-Clark, co-founder and president of the Carlos Lezama Archives and Caribbean Cultural Center (CLACC-C) in Brooklyn, named in honor of her late father, the co-founder and former WIADCA president, was honored at the Pre-Parade Breakfast by the Washington, D.C.-based Institute of Caribbean Studies (CIS).

“I’m humbled by the wonderful presentation of the plaque,” said Clark-Lezama in receiving the award from CIS Founder and President Jamaican Dr. Claire Nelson.