Caribbean Connection: Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke

-
One Caribbean Nation.

YVETTE D. CLARKE

Clarke begins eighth term in Congress

WASHINGTON – United States Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, has taken her eighth Oath of Office at the start of the historic 117th United States Congress.

“We ushered in the 117th Congress – the most diverse Congress in our nation’s history – and I proudly took my eighth Oath of Office to represent New York’s 9th Congressional District,” she told the Caribbean Media Corporation ( CMC) following her swearing-in for her eight consecutive two-year term on Tuesday.

“While this is often a celebratory occasion, we must not forget we are beginning this new Congress during a time of extraordinary difficulty,” added the representative for the predominantly Caribbean ninth Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York.

“Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, we have experienced more than 350 000 tragic deaths, over 20 million infections, an unprecedented economic crisis, a racial reckoning,” added Clarke, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce, and Homeland Security Committees.

“The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated many of the inequalities plaguing our nation. Still, it has served as an opportunity for House Democrats to focus on the critical issues to the American people.”

Clarke added that with the passing of the US$900 billion pandemic relief bill, communities have begun receiving enhanced unemployment benefits, US$600 direct cash payments and protections against eviction.

She said the legislation is “a strong beginning to continued efforts to accomplish all that we had hoped”.

Clarke said navigating the pandemic has been “extremely challenging,” adding, however, that “we have seen many within our communities that have been most adversely impacted and marginalised arise as true champions for democracy”. (CMC)


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Oh Hell No, Mr Trudeau !

-
Image
The Caribbean Is One Nation. Justin Trudeau "But something is missing from this cabinet, from this reflection of the Canada of 2015. There are no people that look like me or my children or my grandchildren, despite there being at least six Liberal caucus members with Caribbean and African immigrant backgrounds. Once again, blacks and blackness are invisible. It is as if there is no black in Canada. Maybe despite all its diversity Canada in 2015 is still a white man’s country, where as in time of old all eligible and desirable non-whites and males have been co-opted into whiteness. Just like the Italians, Greeks, Ukrainians, Afghans, etc. that are now all white Canadians. Diversity through assimilation. And as has always been the case, the one unassimilable group – primary because of the colour of skin and the historic outsider status – is blacks. And this is at a time when south of the border there is a black president. Maybe it is true that Canadian and U.S. cultures and
Read more

Respect Hatians' Rights

-
Image
                                                          The Caribbean Is One Nation. President Danilo Medina We call on the Government of the Dominican Republic to repeal the nefarious rulings of the DR constitutional court and return the dignity to those Haitians born of Hatian descent in the Dominican Republic, by restoring their rights to be citizens.    We further make it public that we will oppose the Dominican Republic becoming a member of CARICOM  unless this blot is removed from its affairs. The Haitian people seem to have been identified, as the one people in our region, who must suffer indignity after indignity; be it political, natural or man made.  Haiti has been treated, not as the most progressive post slave society in our region but as an unwanted step child by the entire region. Yet in the face of betrayal and ruthless internal and external political machinations, the Haitian people, whenever given the opportunity demonstrate an inherent resolve, not so rea
Read more

The Killing of Dr. Rodney

-
Image
The killing of Dr Rodney By Rickey Singh NOW that Carnival 2014 is over, perhaps the people of Trinidad and Tobago could spare some time to reflect on developments in other Caricom states. One such country is Guyana. An issue currently in sharp focus in Guyana is a probe into the killing, decades ago, of the internationally famous historian and crusader for freedom and social justice Walter Rodney. Thirty-three years after this intellectual and writer was killed in a bomb blast in his car on the night of June 13, 1980, in Georgetown, a three-member team of Caribbean legal experts has been established to begin an enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the killing of Dr Rodney.  “Assassination” has always been the unofficial verdict of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the party of which Dr Rodney was a founder-leader, as well as from thousands of its supporters across Guyana. They continue to blame the administration of late president Forbes Burnham for the murder.
Read more