Although their professional and other interests may be miles apart from each other, as Bajans in New York they are united by their nationalism.
There was Randy Brathwaite, a New York attorney who is also the President of the Council of Barbadian Organisations of New York, a body that brings at least a dozen Bajan associations and clubs under a single umbrella.
Then there is Ricardo Bentham, an accountant who operates an H&R Block tax preparation and financial services franchise in Queens. Next is Dr Calvin Holder, a tenured history professor at Staten Island College of the City University of New York, CUNY for more than 25 years.
How about Aja, a well-known cultural advocate, who spends as much time in Barbados where his navel string was buried as he does in New York, his home away from home for the past three years.
When Jewel Shannon and Fontaine Archer, fashion designers; Sandra Went, a jeweller who deals in precious stones, Sam Taitt, a communications professor at Kingsborough Community College and Clyde Jones, a photo-journalist in the City for about a half century are added to the list of a dozen participants in a round-table session at the Barbados government offices-General in Manhattan the dimensions of the diverse gathering become clear.
“My aim is to be build and strengthen Diaspora relations in my jurisdiction” which stretches from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts to Michigan and six other states “to keep the Barbadian community informed and up-to-date with pertinent information by disseminating it in a timely manner,” said Dr Donna Hunte-Cox, the new Consul-General in New York, explained as the reason for assembling the Bajans to begin with.
For about two hours they sat around the table and discussed what can be done.
With an intense gaze focused on Bajan youth in the northeastern region, Hunte-Cox listed the forging of close relations with educational institutions as a valuable step towards building “harmony” that would eventually lead to signed memoranda of understanding between Barbados and the schools, universities and colleges, all aimed at helping young people “reach their fullest potential.”
The extensive programme the Consulate-General has in mind, calls for a range of youth activities and other undertakings as well as seminars and town hall meetings on investments, financial planning for retirement, career development, estate planning “mini-Diaspora conferences every two years, pensions and mini-network conferences, the first of which is to be held next year in New York as well as sessions on FATCA, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Initiative that aims to bring naturalised American citizens and green card holders and other immigrants with assets in foreign countries– real estate, bank accounts, stocks and bonds and other holdings – into the U.S. tax-paying web.
But with the 48th anniversary of independence a matter of weeks away, Hunte-Cox outlined a programme of activities that would give Barbadians a chance to hail their country. Among them will be a church service and flower show on November 30th at St Luke & St Matthews, an Episcopal parish in Brooklyn where the Rev. John Rogers, Rector of Barbados’ St Luke’s Anglican Church, is to preach the sermon.
In addition, a fashion show, art display, book signing, a sampling of Bajan cuisine, a Barbadian marketplace and entertainment at Wingate High School on November 22 are on the drawing board for the independence celebrations and will present another side of Barbados. Next will be the traditional Barbados flag raising ceremony at historic Borough Hall in downtown Brooklyn on December 1.
“We are also promoting an entrepreneurial outlook through creativity and innovation as these are fast becoming the new frontiers of the century,” she said.
And how did the participants in the round table respond to what they had heard?
Prof. Holder described the initiative as a “substantive programme” and singled out the proposed youth activities as “something special that needs to be done because it can provide the Barbadian community and Barbados itself with leadership over the long haul.
“It is in Barbados’ interest to nurture strong relations with the Diaspora in New York, the United Kingdom and elsewhere, particularly at this time of economic and social challenges” at home, he said.
Brathwaite said the focus on youth was essential because it “would bridge the gap between generations” of Nationals. In addition, he went on, we must be strategic in our thinking and in the implementation of our activities. Culture must also have a strategic role. Saving for retirement is another important area, he said.
Like Brathwaite, Aja, a coordinator of cultural activities in Barbados and New York, called the plans for culture “far-reaching” and the involvement of business leaders “essential” in the bridge-building process.
“The growth of cultural industries is very important,” said Aja. “The arts are an excellent avenue to involve young people and older generations in a community.”
Bentham, whose financial services company occupies a special niche as a Black-owned payroll, bookkeeping, tax preparation and business services in Queens, agreed with Aja and Brathwaite.
“The Barbadian Diaspora has its achievers, people with talent who can be mobilised for the benefit of the youth,” he said.
