The West American Indian Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), organizer of the Brooklyn Caribbean Carnival in New York, has selected United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Congresswoman Stacey E Plaskett among four Grand Marshals for the historic Parade of the West Indian Day Carnival on Works. Day, Monday, in Brooklyn’s sprawling Eastern Parkway.
WIADCA said in a statement that the four Grand Marshals will make history by “walking Brooklyn’s Cultural Row in solidarity to commemorate WIADCA’s 55th anniversaryth anniversary.”
In addition to Plaskett, the other Grand Marshals are Puerto Rican Victoria Cruz, LGBTQ Rights activist; Ingrid Lewis-Martin, chief adviser to Mayor Eric Adams, originally from Barbados and Panama; and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, whose parents hail from the Dominican Republic.
Plaskett, who represents the USVI general congressional district in the US House of Representatives, is currently serving her fourth consecutive two-year term in Congress.
A member of the House Ways and Means, Budget and Agriculture Committees, Plaskett noted that the American Caribbean Labor Carnival is the largest cultural event in the United States and Canada, commanding an attendance of approximately two million people, with one million tourists come from all over the US, Canada and around the world every year.
She said this year’s celebration is the first of its kind since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying it will be “especially special since New York was the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“We are expecting a record turnout of individuals ready to celebrate the beauty and importance of Caribbean culture,” said Plaskett. “As a proud Crucian (St. Croix native), Caribbean American and Brooklynite, I am extremely proud to be chosen as one of the Grand Marshals of this year’s parade,” said Plaskett.
“New York has long been a rich epicenter of Caribbean families and our collective culture with many layers of Caribbean heritage contributing to the arts, music, history and cultural identity of this part of the United States,” she added. “I would like to thank the WIADCA Board of Directors, Members and Advisory Committee for this opportunity.”
Plaskett said she looks forward to joining New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, along with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, to cut the ribbon and officially kick off this year’s Carnival Parade on Monday.
WIADCA said the personal spectacle returned on Thursday with five consecutive days of carnival spectaculars, culminating in the massive Carnival Parade on Monday.
“Rules of the road are safety first, only costumes and culture matter,” WIADCA stressed. “The lifeblood of Carnival is the community and our cultural partners, and we salute all those who stood with us to keep our culture alive.”
Except for the Labor Day Carnival Parade, all events take place on the grounds of the Brooklyn Museum.
Sunday’s events feature Paintopia and the Amnesia Day Party, featuring “a full line-up of DJs, good food, lots of vibes.”
“On Carnival Monday, we hit the ‘know’ road as carnival troupe leaders present a range of costumed masterpieces,” WIADCA said.
