By NAN Staff Writer
News Americas, BROOKLYN, NY, Fri. Sept. 2, 2016: Say Labor Day weekend in Brooklyn and every single crime that occurs – even days before and miles away – becomes the fault of the West Indian American Day Carnival.
Yet, the NYPD’s own crime stats for Labor Day weekends in the past five years across the entire borough tell a different story.
In 2011, there were 14 murders and 46 shootings over the weekend;
In 2012, 4 murders and 22 shootings;
In 2013, 5 murders and 28 shootings;
In 2014, 6 murders and 25 shootings and;
In 2015 – 4 murders out of 23 shootings.
In fact, despite the major news reports around the killing of Carey Gabay, an aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was shot and killed by a stray bullet fired during a fight that broke out during J’Ouvert, an ole mas celebration unrelated to the West Indian American Day Carnival, the event was relatively safe.
Outside of that, the carnival last year was more peaceful than in previous years, according to the statistics.
This comes as the NYPD’s 71st Precinct in Crown Heights posted fliers warning people to ‘not shoot’ anyone during J’Ouvert.
The police are also warning those attending festivities to ‘not stab anyone.’ The fliers have sparked outrage among local residents who called it ‘racist’ while others said the fliers were a ‘waste of paper’ and will have ‘zero impact.’
The New York Caribbean Carnival kicked off last night and will continue today, Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, with a Stay in School College Fair from 11 a.m., on the grounds of the museum followed in the evening with Brass Fest from 7 p.m. starring KES The Band, Roy Cape All Stars, Outta Limitz, Farmer Nappy, Blaxx, Ricardo Drue, Lyrikal and others.
On September 3rd, the Junior Carnival Parade will get underway at 9 a.m. from St. Johns Place, between Kingston and Brooklyn Aves., near the home of the late Carlos Lezama, former West Indian American Day Carnival president and co-founder of the Brooklyn carnival. On Saturday evening, the Pan competition, Panorama, will get underway at 7 p.m. featuring the ADLIB, CASYM, the Crossfire Steel Orchestra, D’Radoes, Despers USA, the Harmony Steel Orchestra, METRO, Pantonic, Pan Sonatas, and Steel Xplosion.
On Sunday, September 4th, Dimanche Gras takes over the Brooklyn Museum stage from 7 p.m. with incredible costumes competing for King and Queen of the Bands honors, calypso music and performances by David Rudder, Natasha Wilson, Gryner, the Boodoosingh Tassa Drummers, and Something Positive’s traditional carnival characters.
The Carnival wraps up on Monday, September 5th with the annual mega carnival parade down Eastern Parkway – from Schenectady Ave. to Washington Ave. in Brooklyn, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This year’s carnival grand marshals include City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito; Guyana Consul General Barbara Atherly; Barbados U.N. Ambassador Keith (Tony) Marshall; and Conrad Ifill, president and CEO of Conrad’s Famous Bakery.
For tickets and information on the pre-carnival parade events, visit www.wiadca.com and click the red “Buy Tickets” tab.
