Adams makes historic city att’y appointment
It’s official, Barbados-born Sylvia Hinds-Radix is Mayor Adams’ pick to head the corporation counsel’s office as the city’s top legal official. And Caribbean-rooted Diana Richardson has become deputy borough president of Brooklyn.
Hinds-Radix is the first Caribbean born person to hold the citywide position of corporation counsel — which handles civil litigation against the city, including lawsuits and settlements with its band of lawyers and staffers.
A graduate of Howard University School of Law, she was previously an associate justice of the New York State Appellate Division, 2nd Department, and a member of the New York State Constitutional Bench.
She was first elected to the Supreme Court in Kings County in 2004 and served as a civil court judge, from 2002 through 2004, “spending her first year in the Criminal Court of Kings County.”
Her legal career started when she worked for District Council 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services.
Richardson, whose parents hail from Aruba, was named Brooklyn deputy borough president by new Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who was born to parents from the Dominican Republic.
Richardson — whose former state Assembly district covered Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Wingate and East Flatbush in central Brooklyn — will be replaced in special election held on March 22.
Mourning Joyce Quamina
Condolences poured in last week for longtime West Indian American Day Carnival Association member and officer Joyce Quamina, who died on March 1. She was 85.
Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Quamina immigrated to the U.S. in 1969.
“A participant of Carnival in her native Trinidad, Quamina was a spectator of the original West Indian American parades in Harlem, New York and became an active participant when the parade began in Brooklyn,” wrote Bill Pincheon in 1994 for a Brooklyn Public Library oral history interview.
For decades, Quamina — along with the other organization officials and members — worked closely with WIADCA founder Carlos Lezama.
“Her eyes saw many transitions, her wisdom guided us through many successes, she taught us the importance of listening to, respecting and honoring those who came before us.” the Carnival association said in a statement.
The founder and organizer of the association’s anticipated Kiddies Carnival for youngsters, Quamina also served as the group’s business manager and she continued to consult the association after her retirement.
It’s ‘Ska and Soulz Sunday’
Welcome “Ska and Soulz Sunday,” a series of events of music and entertainment connecting “Caribbean-Americans living in New York and the diaspora” with their rich cultural heritage.
The event will be held on the second Sunday of every month at the Phaze 2 Event Space, 9117 Avenue L in Canarsie, Brooklyn, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Richard Walton of Double R Entertainment and Shaun Walsh of Friends of Whatz Up New York, are presenting the upcoming, monthly Ska and Soulz Sundays happenings.
“You can come and expect some great music, mature style,” said DJ Candy, calling the sounds “grown folks’ music.” DJ Candy will provide music on March 13, followed by and DJ Supa Fridge on April 10, May 8, and June 12.
For information, call (917) 678-8485 or send email at Whatzupnewyork@yahoo. com.
‘RayRay Paints’ harmony
Growing up in a multiracial-multireligious-multicultural home sounds complicated, but 16-year-old author Surayyah “RayRay” Fofana has simplified matters in with her book “RayRay Paints a Self Portrait,” published by Larue PR LLC, illustrated by Eliana Rodgers.
With a father from Senegal, and a mother from America, the New Jersey high school student’s book is “based on her own experience as well experiences of families and children with varied racial, ethnic and/ or religious backgrounds.”
The book is being sold on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Walmart and other outlets.
Caribbeat now appears every other week. To submit items for Caribbeat, send email to caribbeatnewyork@gmail.com.