Dimple Willabus, center, is pictured with her family, from left, daughter, Anaya, youngest known author in New
York, husband, NYPD Lieutenant Winston Willabus, daughter, Chantelle, and son, Brandon.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Caribbean Life, December 20-26, 2019 3
By Nelson A. King
Santa Claus brought an early Christmas
Sunday night to more than 200 Caribbean
children in Brooklyn at the 12th
Annual Christmas Party organized by the
Brooklyn-based Standard Shippers and
Friends at the Friends of Crown Heights
Educational Center, on Logan Street, in
East New York, Brooklyn.
Vincentian community activist Garnes
Byron, who acted as Santa Claus,
invigorated the kids, whose ages ranged
from a few months to 12 years, bringing
them much cheer and gifts at the packed
event.
“It was a pleasure playing Santa Claus
for the sixth year for Standard Shippers
and Friends’ Annual Children’s Christmas
Party,” Byron told Caribbean Life
afterwards. “The joy of seeing the kids’
faces light up, when I entered the room,
is enough to have me coming back year
after year.
“My job as Santa is to bring joy to the
kids by giving them gifts,” he added. “I
also enjoy hearing what some of the kids
have on their wish list for Christmas.”
Atiba Williams, another Vincentian
community activist, who has been coordinating
the event for the last nine years,
said he was also delighted to see “the joy
on the kids’ faces.
“I look forward to doing this,” he
said, adding that the kids and toddlers,
accompanied by their parents, other relatives
and guardians, besides receiving
gifts from Santa, played games, indulged
in arts and crafts, and had snacks and
refreshments.
Williams said kids and toddlers from a
wide cross section of the Caribbean community
were represented.
“It was not just Vincentian kids,” he
stressed. “We had different nationalities,
including Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago,
Grenada and St. Lucia.
“We’re open to everyone,” he added.
“Once the kids register, they receive a gift
from Santa.”
By Tangerine Clarke
In a passionate call to action, R. Dimple
Willabus, Democratic candidate for
the City New York Council District 46,
called on women to step forward from
the backseat, become leaders and join
the movement to make the change that
“our community really needs.”
Willabus, a 30-year media professional
and the C.E.O. of Rhythm Nation
Entertainment, a business and entertainment
consulting firm, made these
powerful remarks during a campaign
launch and fundraiser at Rishavena on
Flatbush Avenue, on Thursday, Dec. 12,
with her family beside her.
“This is not only about a campaign,
it’s a movement,” said the mother, wife,
and third-generation business owner,
who, 10 years ago opened a storefront in
the same District 46, where the seat will
be left vacant due to term limit.
Willabus, a Caribbean Life 2019
Impact Awardee, said she is paving the
way for her children, the next generation.
“I have to pave the way and create
a path for my daughters, Chantelle and
Anaya, and the young girls who look
like me.”
This is also about educating our
young girls and young women, and
empowering them for the next level,
said the candidate, who has listened to
the problems of the community.
“I am about making changes, sometimes
you have to be on the other side
you have to make that decision to make
that changes our community needs,
sometimes people don’t know where
to start, so they need that voice strong
enough to stand up say I am going to be
the leader, lets get it done.
She said many times residents are
not civically engaged in their community,
to come out and be activated,
that is why we are being robbed with
it comes to education to some degree.
Our youth needs to be taught at an
early age, and to get involved in every
step of the way in the community.
She noted that only 13000 individuals
of District 46, voted in the last City
Council election, where there is a population
of 170,000 eligible voters but only
eight percent go to the polls — a staggering
statistic — and more shocking is
53 percent are African Americans, who
comprise most of the votership but do
not come out to vote.
Disengaged members in their communities
or their lack of knowledge
about the voting process are to blame,
said Dimple, who was born in a small
village in Georgetown, Guyana.
And in many cases youth are being
disenfranchised on the issue of housing.
One out of every 10 children are
in temporary housing or shelters, said
Willabus, who is running on the platform
of ‘Integrity, Leadership and Commitment.’
According to her campaign website,
she wants to reclaim the community
by putting people first, increasing
educational funding, creating better
youth and senior services, improving
social programs and creating economic
growth through small business development.
Like so many other New Yorkers who
have migrated to the United States, she
has lived the struggle, stayed true to
her faith and morals and has found success
through a commitment to public
service and advocating for her community.
This fervent young woman is sure
to make history, when she takes to the
campaign with the full support from
her community, including her daughter,
Anaya Anaya, the youngest known
author in New York, eight-year-old son,
Brandon, her multi-media professional
daughter, Chantelle, and husband
NYPD Lieutenant, Winston Willabus
behind her.
Willabus, would like to thank attorney
Nigel Blackman, volunteers and
many others who are supporting her.
To join the Friends of Dimple Willable
campaign, or connect with Dimple
go to www.dimplewillabus.com, info@
dimplewillabus.com, and platforms:
Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or
by calling 347) 470-8288.
Kids greet Santa Claus, portrayed
by Garnes Byron.
Photo by Nelson A. King
Willabus launches campaign
for Council District 46
Santa
brings
cheer
/www.dimplewillabus.com
/www.dimplewillabus.com
/dimplewillabus.com