Caribbean-Americans among those in run for Primary Election races today

By Felicia Persaud

Tuesday, September 9, 2003

BROOKLYN, New York: Three Caribbean American City Councilmembers face an uphill task to retain their seat as poll booths open on this morning's Primary Election in New York City.

Jamaican-American Councilmembers, Messrs. Leroy Comrie and Alan Jennings, who both represent a large Caribbean population in southeast Queens, face stiff challenges in their bid to retain their seats.

Mr. Comrie will face-off with Ms. Helen Cooper Gregory, who came close two years ago to beating the 45-year-old councilmember. But he is also holding his own, especially since he has received the support of the Democratic Party.

The same cannot be said for Councilmember Jennings. The Democratic machinery choose to endorse Ms. Yvonne Reddick over the 36-year-old councilmember. Both, however, face some competition from Guyanese-born economist Mr. Indergit Singh. 

But it is Brooklyn, the heart of the Caribbean populace, where the showdown will be. Vincentian-born Councilmember Mr. Kendall Stewart faces an all-Caribbean list of challengers. They are Guyanese-born Ms. Erlene King, Jamaican-born Mr. Omar Boucher, and Barbadian college professor, Mr. Sam Taitt.

Mr. Boucher, ironically, worked as a political consultant for Mr. Stewart, when he ran against then incumbent, Councilmember Lloyd Henry, in 1997.

The Jamaican-born political consultant and builder, says he's running against Mr. Stewart the councilmember became arrogant once he was elected.

Ms. King, who served under former Councilmember Mr. Henry, says she is running because she is concerned about the area's youth and high rates of foreclosures.

Mr. Taitt says he is running because there is too much of focus in such representation, on "ordinary things." He says distances himself from such "ordinary" behavior by proposing quarterly meetings with block associations, setting up of a credit union in the district and increasing voter participation.

The incumbent, Mr. Stewart, argues that since his election to office he has lobbied both Democrats and Republicans for the good of the 45th District and has increased the number of Beacon school programs from one to three while supporting for community-based service organizations and obtaining some funding for the annual West Indian American Day Carnival and deserves to be returned to office. He has, however, declined to reveal the amount of money secured. 

The trained podiatrist, who speaks in a heavy accent that is often times perceived to be more Creole than English, has also succeeded in upsetting his largely Haitian-American constituents by making stereotypical remarks in the mainstream press. The Haitians have seemingly been unforgiving despite Mr. Stewart's public apology. It is now left to be seen whose favor the Haitian votes will be cast. 

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