Barbados Underground

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• David

  July 8, 2015 7:14 PM

  

  CGID calls on WIADCA to disclose the names and nationality of its board members

  NEW YORK: The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) and Guyanese-American organizations note the West Indian American Day Carnival Association’s (WIADCA) response to our complaint to the New York State Attorney General that it openly discriminates against Guyanese and non-Trinidadians. In a statement on July 7, 2015, WIADCA claimed that its “leadership and volunteers” “have roots in countries such as Grenada, Guyana, St. Vincent, Italy, the United States, Anguilla, Trinidad, Tobago, Jamaica, Dominica, Barbados, Haiti and Panama amongst others.” 

  WIADCA’s statement is an obfuscation of the issue. It is as deceptive as the association’s scheme to profit from all Caribbean nationals but restrict its membership to Trinidadians only. We will not allow this smokescreen to contend!

  CGID and the Guyanese community are not interested in the “roots” of WIADCA’s leadership and volunteers. We reemphasize that WIADCA’s board of directors and general membership are exclusively Trinidadian. This is true because the association has a policy of exclusion. It consciously engages in discrimination to prevent non-Trinidadians from its members. WIADCA has not, and cannot, deny this fact. Moreover, we challenge WIADCA to now disclose to the public the  country of origin of all members of its board of directors.

  WIADCA is a non-for profit organization that receives public funds from the State and City of New York, but engages in segregationism and systematically discriminates against Guyanese and other non-Trinidadians because of their national origin.  This practice is unlawful.  We are determined to end WIADCA’s insularity and anti-Guyanese posture. This issue must be addressed by State and City authorities. We have retained Counsel and are alternatively prepared to litigate this matter.  

  We therefore reiterate our call for the New York State Attorney General and the Kings County District Attorney to investigate WIADCA’s financial propriety for compliance with non-for profit financial accountability and anti-discrimination laws.

  –END–

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• Rhea Smith

  August 5, 2015 11:57 AM

  

  WIADCA MEDIA STATEMENT

  On July 16, 2015, at the request of the leadership of West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), a meeting was held in Brooklyn with the leadership of WIADCA and leaders of the Guyanese community to discuss concerns that were brought to the attention of WIADCA.

  After a lengthy discussion for almost three hours, WIADCA agreed to explore the following matters with its board of directors:

  1) In an effort to foster greater inclusiveness and diversity, WIADCA delegation agreed to work towards advancing diverse participation/member initiatives to further reflect a broader composition of New York’s rich and diverse Caribbean-American communities;

  2) WIADCA delegation also agreed to explore a more diverse partnership, recruit new cultural partners and facilitate the development of a new “One Caribbean” delegate program where appointees from CARICOM nations would function as community liaisons to support WIADCA community relations efforts.

  3) WIADCA delegation agreed to discuss protocol, rules and guidelines regulations with the chair and members of the Caribbean Consular Corps, New York elected officials to keep them informed and request their continued support.

  As these progressive developments are implemented WIADCA delegation agreed to continue to strengthen ties, embrace and foster relationships and input from Caribbean brothers and sisters and the wider community, including various associations, women, minority and other cultural, business, youth groups, etc.

  At the conclusion of the meeting, the consensus was that all participants would strive to achieve further inclusiveness and partnerships.

  WIADCA thanks the community, sponsors, and partners for years of continued support and service as we are looking forward to the successful planning of NYC’s Greatest Show on Earth!

  –END- –

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