Remembering Grenada’s Ambassador to the UN, Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus

 In June 2019, a street in Brooklyn was co-named in honor the late Grenada Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus.

In a grand celebration, New York City Councilman Dr. Mathieu Eugene, the Haitian-born representative for the predominantly Caribbean 40^th Council District in Brooklyn, hosted the street co-naming for “Dr. Lamuel A. Stanislaus Way” in his district, at Rutland Road, between Flatbush and Bedford Avenues.

“When I look at the audience and see so many leaders that means Dr. Stanislaus was an outstanding leader,” he told the ceremony. “As an immigrant, I feel very proud.

“I am proud to commend this street Dr. Stanislaus Way,” he added.

US Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9^th Congressional district, said she, too, was very proud to represent a district in which Dr. Stanislaus lived and served.

“It is, indeed, an honor to rise in tribute to the life and legacy of the late Dr. Lamuel A. Stanislaus,” she said in a letter read by her Brooklyn district manager Anita Taylor.

“Sir Lamuel A. Stanislaus’ life demonstrated a love of God, humankind, love of country, love of his birthplace and its people, as well as the Caribbean community at large,” Clarke added. “Dr. Stanislaus was and will remain an inspiration to us all.”

Former Brooklyn President Marty Markowitz said: “No one had a better command of the English language than Dr. Stanislaus (applause).

“During the challenges of the 1970s and 80s, he was the voice of the Caribbean (in New York),” he added. “He was truly a very, very special person.”

Dr. Roy A. Hastick, the late Grenadian-born president and founder of the Brooklyn-based Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), said, at the time, that it was “an historic day for the Stanislaus family.”

“Dr. Stanislaus was a legend; was a father, a grand-father, a mentor; he was a role model to may of us,” he said. “He was a statesman. We must make sure this neighborhood remains historic to continue the legacy of Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus.”

Dr. Stanislaus’s eldest son, Lamuel, Jr., said he was happy that the street on Rutland Road was co-named in his father’s memory.

“This block really means a lot to all of us,” he said. “It’s a great block. We’ve been here for over 60 years, and I wouldn’t go to any place else.”

Lamuel, Jr.’s younger brother, Eugene, who followed in his father’s footsteps to become a dentist, said the co-naming of the street is also “a tribute to all the families of Rutland Road who share his (Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus) love of a strong family unit and contribution to community.”

“Our family believes that Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus will always represent ‘Rutland Road Family Way,’” he said. “My family is proud and humbled as our father receives this prodigious tribute today. I feel confident that he is illuminated in glory and watching from a higher authority.”

Derek Ventour — the Brooklyn-based, Grenadian-born entertainment producer, who was instrumental in Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus receiving US Presidential and Congressional recognitions, at Clarke’s behest, told Caribbean Life that he had approached Dr. Eugene to host the co-naming of Rutland Road in Dr. Lamuel’s honor.

“For everyone who attended the unveiling ceremony, it was a blessing,” Ventour said. “Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus served as an inspiration to many for the life he lived. I promise that I will never forget his dedication, his service and his friendship. It was my pleasure to serve.”

Dr. Stanislaus died on September 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 95^th 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.”

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) Governor 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.

Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell applauded the initiative to co-name a section of Rutland Road in honor of Dr. Stanislaus.

“The naming of Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus Way is a fitting tribute to a man who represented the epitome of service to the community,” said Mitchell in a statement. “Through his profession as a dentist and service as a UN diplomat, he has left an indelible legacy.

“He demonstrated great love for his country and was an advocate for small states at the UN,” he added, stating that Dr. Stanislaus had received “wide acclaim for his exemplary service and was recognized under Grenada’s National Hero legislation in 2016.”

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