Big UN role for tiny Caribbean nation
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the newest members of the influential UN Security Council — bringing the small Caribbean nation into a powerful position of honor and responsibility.
The UN News publication reported that “St. Vincent and the Grenadines breaks a record, as smallest-ever Security Council seat holder.”
After a UN General Assembly vote June 7, vigorous applause erupted when the nation’s Security Council position was announced.
In addition to accepting the mantle of maintaining peace and security around the world, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (which has a population of 110,000) will also stand up for the concerns of smaller countries.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves told UN News his nation is committed to sustainable development and dealing with climate change.
The Security Council has five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) and 10 nonpermanent members that are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines and other new nonpermanent members begin their terms in January.
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Director Didacus Jules congratulated “the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on this historic milestone.”
“Representation is critical, and we unequivocally support this endeavor by Prime Minister Gonsalves and his team to ensure Latin America and the Caribbean plays an active role in international discussions on peace and security,” he said.
‘Eat Caribbean NYC 2019’
If you’ve got a craving for Caribbean cuisine, this is a great time to eat — “Eat Caribbean NYC 2019” is a week for New Yorkers and tourists to enjoy prix fixe menus and special dishes.
The event is presented by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, in conjunction with the celebration of National CaribbeanAmerican Heritage Month.
Get a full list of participating restaurants at eatcaribbean.nyc.
Sparrow show at Joe’s Pub
A special prebirthday performance by the Mighty Sparrow: The King of Calypso will take place at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. (at Astor Place), on July 6
The award-winning singer/songwriter will take the stage just days before his birthday July 9.
Visit bit.ly/mightysparrow2019 for tickets.
Born Slinger Francisco in Grenada, he moved to Trinidad and Tobago with his parents and became a citizen as a young child. He gained great fame in his new home — winning multiple Trinidad Carnival awards and recording more than 80 albums.
Carib’s healing spirits
“Afro-Taino Two Spirit Medicine of the Caribbean” — a free workshop to “share aspects of how indigenous peoples of the Caribbean honor twospirit, queer and trans community members through their traditions” — will be held next Saturday in Queens.
Sponsored by Aduela Taught Me botanica and the Queens Museum, the event will be at the museum, in the New York City Building in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, from 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
The program is part of the museum’s “Stonewall 50: Celebrating the LGBTQ+ Civil Rights Movements in Queens.”
For information, send email to abuelataughtme@gmail.com and visit fb.com/abuelataughtme or instagram.com/abuelataughtme
Festival in the park
The caribBeing cultural organization has ramped up its year-round presentation of programs with special events for the June celebration of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month —and its “Smorgasburg Prospect Park” Jerk Festival will be held Sunday in Prospect Park.
The gathering of food vendors will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the park’s Breeze Hill section (enter at Ocean Ave. and Lincoln Road). To RSVP, bit.ly/caribbeing_festival. For a full range of caribBeing programs, visit prospectpark.org/caribbeing
Toots’ reggae in B’klyn
Reggae music pioneers Toots and the Maytals plan to fill the Brooklyn Bowl this week.
Led by Toots Hibbert, the band has Tuesday and Wednesday shows at the Williamsburg, Brooklyn, concert hall/bowling alley. Doors open at 6 p.m. and shows start at 8 p.m.
Along with the headliner, the Victory Band will be featured Tuesday and the Van Gordon Martin Band on Wednesday. Selectress Iriela will spin music both days.
The Brooklyn Bowl is at 61 Wythe Ave.