Brooklyn Councilman Dr. Mathieu Eugene says he’s hosting the co-naming of a street in Brooklyn in honor the late Grenada Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus.
Dr. Eugene, the Haitian-born representative for the predominantly Caribbean 40th Council District in Brooklyn, said on Wednesday that he will host on Saturday morning the street co-naming ceremony for “Dr. Lamuel A. Stanislaus Way” in his district, at Rutland Road, between Flatbush and Bedford Avenues.
“I will be joined by the family of Dr. Stanislaus, distinguished leaders and prominent members of the community, as we pay tribute to his remarkable life and legacy,” Dr. Eugene said.
Dr. Stanislaus died on Sept. 18, 2016 barely five months after he was recognized by then United States President Barack Obama and US First Lady Michelle Obama, as “a part of our great American story.” He was 95.
Dr. Stanislaus, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, died at a hospice in Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn, where he was taken to, from his Brooklyn home.
Shortly after celebrating his 95th birthday on April 22, 2016, Sir Lamuel had told Caribbean Life that he was “suffering with the ravages of cancer of the prostrate and cancer of the bones.”
Derek Ventour – the Brooklyn-based, Grenadian-born entertainment producer, who was instrumental in Sir Lamuel receiving US Presidential and Congressional recognitions, at the behest of Brooklyn Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, and New York State recognition – told Caribbean Life that had approached Dr. Eugene to host the renaming of the Brooklyn street in Sir Lamuel’s honor.
“He was a great motivator to many; he was the greatest treasure we’ve lost in our community,” Ventour said. “He was an inspiration to many. He was a fixture – one of our pillars. He was a scholar, a gentleman and a great conversationalist.
“I was very happy to be the one responsible for obtaining the US Presidential Proclamation, Congressional Citation and the message from the governor (Andrew Cuomo) of the State of New York,” added Ventour.
Dr. Eugene described Sir Lamuel as “a respected leader and community activist, whose remarkable career was defined by his over 30 years of service as a dentist and later his appointment as a Permanent Representative of Grenada to the United Nations.”
The councilman also noted that Dr. Stanislaus “served honorably as Grenada’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Representative in the United Nations from 1985-1990 and again from 1998-2004.”
Between these two appointments, he served as Ambassador-at–Large and Deputy Permanent Representative for two years.
Born in Petite Martinique, Grenada’s smallest sister isle – the larger is Carriacou – Stanislaus was educated at Grenada Boys’ Secondary School (1933-1938) and Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he received his Bachelor of Science (summa cum laude) degree in 1948, and the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1953.
He was engaged in the private practice of dentistry in New York City for 32 years before taking up the UN appointments, his family said.
Sir Lamuel also served for a year as a Vice-President of the UN General Assembly, “during which he was appointed to act for a month in the absence of the President, receiving highest commendation for the conduct of the business of the General Assembly for that month,” according to the Stanislaus family.
The family also said another highlight of Stanislaus’ tenure was “the persuasive statement made before the Decolonization Committee, which resulted in the invitation to the then Chief Minister of Montserrat to come to the UN to plead his case for additional help for his volcanic-ravaged island.”
The family, however, said Sir Lamuel’s legacy to his country and to 11 other small Commonwealth countries at the United Nations is what is known as the “Small States Joint Office at the UN, where the larger Commonwealth States have given well-appointed shared offices to smaller Commonwealth States rent free for the past 25 years and counting.”
Dr. Stanislaus was the recipient of numerous professional, civic and political awards, including the Insignia of Commander of the British Empire from her Majesty the Queen of England (CBE); The Lifetime Achievement Award from the District Attorney of Brooklyn; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from St. George’s University; and the Distinguished Service award from Brooklyn Historical Society.
Eugene said Sir Lamuel “used his role as a voice of the Caribbean community in Brooklyn to forge meaningful relationships with (the late Caribbean American) Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and (late New York) Gov. Mario Cuomo.”
In 2018, Eugene said he “had the honor of co-sponsoring Intro. 1300, overwhelmingly passed by the City Council, which co-named Rutland Road, between Flatbush and Bedford Avenues as Dr. Lamuel A. Stanislaus Way.
“For those who knew Dr. Stanislaus and were impacted by his lifelong dedication in the community, this will be a unique opportunity to share memories of his legacy and what he meant to generations of New Yorkers,” Eugene said.
Ventour said Dr. Stanislaus “has left behind an undeniable legacy of service to our community.
“Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus Way will honor his commitment and dedication to Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, his birthplace,” he said.
