Vincentian umbrella group gives back
Caribbean Life, Jan. 18–24, 2019 27
By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn’s Caribbean American legislators
Rodneyse Bichotte and Diana
Richardson on Tuesday welcome passage
of election reform measures in
New York State Legislature.
The Legislature passed several pieces
of legislation which seek to initiate
access to the right of suffrage for a
wider range of people and limit the
influence of wealthy special interests
on elections.
“Voting is one of the most important
facet of participatory democracy,”
Assemblymember Bichotte, the daughter
of Haitian immigrants, who represents
the 42nd Assembly District in
Brooklyn.
“It is time to modernize the electoral
process, and allow it to be flexible and
inclusive of all Americans,” she added.
“The sad truth is that, for many, voting
can feel like an inconvenience. New
Yorkers are busy people. Often, we are
asked to balance many obligations at
once.
“Election Day often requires voters to
make themselves available on a specific
day at a certain time,” she added. “Now,
I am excited that both the Senate and
Assembly have decided to make sure
that the people of New York who can
vote have a more flexible process to
exercise their right vote.”
Bichotte’s colleague, Assemblymember
Diana C. Richardson (WFP,
D-Brooklyn), noted that “the first days
of legislative session are proving to be
very fruitful for New Yorkers across the
state.
“As a member of the New York State
Assembly, I am ecstatic that we have hit
the ground running in passing major
voting reforms,” said the daughter of
Aruban and St. Martin immigrants,
who represents the 43rd Assembly District.
“This groundbreaking legislative
bill package seeks to increase voter
access, electoral participation, civic
engagement and community engagement.
“This legislative bill package echoes
the national legislative reforms surrounding
voter access,” Richardson
added. “It is imperative that we use all
avenues to continue to maintain this
massive increase of community participation.
“The passing of these bills shows
the commitment of the New York State
Legislature is aiding in the elimination
of voter suppression and the increase
of voter engagement,” Richardson continued.
On Monday, the New York State Legislature
voted for A00780, a bill that will
allow for early voting; A00775 that will
require the Board of Elections to automatically
transfer a voter’s registration
to his/her new location after a change
of address anywhere within New York
State; and A00778 that seeks to amend
the New York State Constitution to
increase access to absentee ballot voting.
The Legislature also passed A00777
that amends the New York State Constitution
to remove the 10-day advance
voter registration requirement; A00774
that seeks to allow 16- and 17-year-olds
to pre-register to vote; and A00779
that will ensure that military personnel
stationed abroad have the opportunity
to vote by sending absentee ballots in
enough time before an election.
“For a democratic government to
work, it should be for the people and
by the people,” Bichotte said. “Before
yesterday, New York State has provided
unfair advantages for wealthy interests.
“Thankfully, this package includes a bill
that can finally level the playing field
when it comes to making contributions
to candidates in an election.
“It is my pleasure to have been a part
of the passing of these historic electoral
initiatives to incite greater access to
not only to the right to vote but to the
democratic ideals on which America
stands for,” she added.
By Nelson A. King
The Brooklyn-based Vincentian
umbrella group in the US, Council
of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Organizations, U.S.A., Inc. (COSAGO),
over the Christmas holidays, donated
US$2000.00 to a home that provides a
safe housing and nurturing environment
for abused and socially-displaced
teenaged girls in St. Vincent and the
Grenadines.
According to COSAGO President Laverne
McDowald-Thompson, members
of the group, including her, who were
home for the season, handed over the
check to Our Lady of Guadalupe Home.
House Mom Donette Dowers, and Brionique
Glasgow, received the donation,
McDowald-Thompson said.
The president said she, along with
Ancilla Friday (general secretary),
Crispin Friday (chairman of Church
Service Committee), Ynolde Walkin
(member of Club St. Vincent and Mas
Production Unlimited), and Jacqueline
Springer (supporter) participated in the
handing-over ceremony.
“Through our communication with
the administrator, Ms. Dopwell, we
found out that, once these teenage girls
come through their doors, their focus
is to transform their lives,” McDowald-
Thompson told Caribbean Life on Monday.
“They must be enrolled and are
attending school. Also, they must be
attending church.
“Members of COSAGO thought that
our donation will be spent very meaningfully,”
she added. “We were happy
that we were able to visit the home
and saw some of the young ladies for
ourselves.
“They were very warm and mannerly,”
the COSAGO president continued.
“I was very touched just by the understanding
of how they came into the
home. Right away, you start thinking
– what else can I do for them, what are
some of their needs? However, you can
see that they are well cared for.”
McDowald-Thompson said Mrs. Friday,
too, was “very touched,” when the
House Mom indicated that there were
girls who had lost their mothers.
One girl lost her mom at 2 years old,
but, “luckily for her, she had a host of
family members who cared for her,”
McDowald-Thompson said.
She said that, every year, COSAGO
and its member organizations make
“considerable donations to various
communities in St. Vincent and the
Grenadines and here in the Diaspora.”
“Many individuals, schools, hospitals,
community clinics and various
institutions have received help,” said
McDowald-Thompson, stating that,
over the years, COSAGO has donated
bed sheets to the Lewis Punnett
Home, an institution for the aged in
St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
COSAGO also donates bed sheets,
kitchen essentials and medical supplies
to the Milton Cato Memorial
Hospital in capital, Kingstown, and to
various health clinics, she said.
In addition, McDowald-Thompson
said COSAGO co-sponsors Team SVG
(St. Vincent and the Grenadines) to
the Penn Relay Games at the University
of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia;
donates gifts to the Nine Morning
Committee at home; and contributes
disaster relief supplies to St. Vincent
and the Grenadines and other Caribbean
countries.
“COSAGO continues to foster a
close relationship with our Vincentain
community,” she said. “We coordinate
trips to Vincy Day in Canada and right
here in New York.
“Along with the Consulate, we commemorate
our nation’s independence,”
she added. “And when the need arises,
we help to with the coordination of
disaster relief drives.”
From eft, Crispin Friday, Jaqueline Springer, Ynolde ‘Nollie’ Walkin, Brionique
Glassgow, Donnette Dowers, Laverne Mc Dowald-Thompson and Ancilla
Friday. Laverne McDowald-Thompson
Bichotte, Richardson welcome election reform measures