The month of April was intense and, as previously mentioned (HERE), has devastated the Caribbean community. There so many Caribbean Americans dead from the Coronavirus Disease (COVID19), specifically in New York City.
People die every day yet that doesn’t make it less painful for their respective family and friends to experience. However, with restricted movement, death has a more painful sting as family members can’t congregate in large numbers to honor their dead and are even forbidden from traveling and entering into some Caribbean countries to pay their respects.
Ep. 35: “A Pandemic Survival Story” (with Khari Edwards)
For those who have died due to COVID-19 and it’s complications, it has been a lonely and painful death, as many spent their last few day, hours and minutes…alone. Khari Edwards, VP of External Affairs at Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, spoke about this tragedy in his hospital.
In honor of those we have lost and their grieving families, we at Jay Blessed Media send love, light and healing energies during this emotionally difficult time.
Caribbean Americans Dead From COVID-19.
Here are just a few notable Caribbean Americans we lost due to COVID-19 and it’s complications…
Dr. Roy Hastick, founder, president and CEO of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) died at the age of 69. The Grenadian-born American was a staunch supporter of Caribbean enterprising and paved the way for the successes of many New York and American-based businesses. Read more HERE.
Gil Bailey – veteran broadcaster and pioneering radio personality, who for more than 50 years was the voice of Jamaica and Caribbean radio in the U.S. He was the recipient of the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican Government. His death comes two years after the death of his wife, Pat. Read more HERE.
Hesronni Cayenne of Carriacou, Grenada, was vice chairman of the structure division of Transport Workers Union Local 100 and died at age 48.
Brooklyn Democracy Academy Principal Dez-Ann Romain, who was of Trinbagonian heritage died at the age of 36. Read more on the NYT.
Wendell “Dragga” Manifold, former Guyana national Under-18 captain of the Pele FC, died at age 65.
Anthony Hall, secretary of the Barbados Ex-Policemen’s Association died due to COVID-19. Read more HERE.
Dr. Ronald Verrier, a Haitian immigrant and Bronx-Based trauma critical care surgeon. Known to many as “the gentle giant” – Verrier served as a surgeon for two decades at St. Barnabas — most recently overseeing the hospital’s ICU. He died at age 59. Read more on NY1.
Reggae Music impresario and Concert Promoter, German Vera, better known as “Father German” lost his battle to the coronavirus at age 48. He leaves behind a legacy of music, love and respect to his two child. Read more on Reggaeville.com.
Though not Caribbean American, UK-based reggae singer, Delroy Washington also passed away due to COVID19. Washington is known for his 1973 independently produced single “Lonely Street” on the Count Shelly label. He recorded backing vocals for The Wailers on the Catch a Fire album, after befriending Bob Marley in the early 1970s. Read more about Delroy Washington HERE and visit his GoFundMe page.
Conrad Ifill, founder and owner of Conrad’s Famous Bakery in Brooklyn passed away at age 81. Ifill had quit his computer data processing job on Wall Street to pursue his dream of “opening a Trinidadian Bakery.” Conrad’s Famous Bakery has been a legendary fixture in the Caribbean Caribbean community for over 31 years. Read more HERE.
Brooklyn-based event promoter Claude Moreno, also known as Money Claude of Jam Kam Entertainment is yet another Caribbean American, dead from COVID19. His family has created a GoFundMe page in his honor, HERE.
Honorable mention….
Trinidad and Tobago’s arts and culture society is mourning the loss of Trinbagonian playwright, activist and cultural revolutionary, Tony Hall. He passed away on April 26th, having suffered a heart attack at his home in Tobago. He was 71 years old.
If you would like to add the name of a person of Caribbean decent who died due to COVID-19, please leave their names in the comment section.
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