COUNCILMAN ALLAN JENNINGS SHOWS SUPPORT FOR INDO-CARIBBEAN POLITICAL INITIATIVE

ast Sunday, City Councilman Allan Jennings from Queens joined political leaders in the Indo-Caribbean and South American Queens community in celebrating the formation of the South Asian & Indo-Caribbean Americans for Political Progress, Inc. (SAICAPP). At an event held at Santoor Indian Restaurant in Glen Oaks, Queens, Jennings offered his congratulations to the leaders of SAICAPP, including Chairman Mohammed Sadiq and President Rajiv Gowda, who helped organize the club.

Sadiq and Gowda wasted no time but have already held a series of voter registration drives in support of their candidates for State Assembly. "Holding more voter registration drives will be critical to the election of an Indo-Caribbean or South American candidate," Jennings said. And he commended them for "taking an excellent first step by bringing the community together under one umbrella organization."

Jennings, who has often stated that he will not tolerate discrimination against any New Yorker, is clearly at ease with the diverse ethnic make up of the District he represents, District 28, which covers Jamaica, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park and Rochdale Village. There are large populations of Indo-Caribbean and South American immigrants living in the district, and it may become even more diverse after this year’s redistricting process is complete.

"I've been told that the lines of my district are being redrawn to create an ‘Asian district,’" Jennings said, "That would make my day, because I read and write Korean, speak Mandarin Chinese, and I'm in the process of learning Hindi and Urdu as well. I am happy to represent everyone!" The audience, which was comprised mainly of immigrants from India, Guyana and elsewhere in the Caribbean, were clearly surprised and delighted by these revelations, and they cheered the Councilman.

And that wasn't all he was to divulge. "You might not know this, but I am a West Indian as well," Jennings stated. "My parents immigrated here from Jamaica, so we share a common culture. In fact, my favorite food is curry goat!" Audience members were excited by this remark, but unfortunately for the Councilman, curry goat was not among the largely vegetarian Indian dishes served at the end of the program.