News Americas, NY, NY, Tues. Sept. 11, 2012: Today marks 11 years since the horrific terrorist attack of 9/11 that took over 3,000 lives including several from the Caribbean and Latin America.
But for the families of those lost, their names will forever be immortalized on the 9/11 Memorial wall. Among the many is Guyana-born cricketer, Nizam Hafiz, whose name is listed on the North Pool section of the memorial. Hafiz, of South Ozone Park, Queens, was an employee of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. when he died on September 11, 2011.
Today, like in the past ten years, his name, along with the other 2,753 killed was read at a 9/11 Memorial ceremony in New York City.
Others making the Memorial are Guyanese Eustace R. Bacchus, Kris Romeo Bishundat, Shivonne Mentis, Annette Andrea Dataram, Ricknauth Jaggernauth, Sarah Khan, Amarnauth Lachhman, Amenia Rasool, Sita Nermalla Sewnarine, Hardai Parbhu, as well as Jamaicans Delrose E. Forbes Cheatham, Joyce Smith, Vaswald George Hall, Derrick Auther Green, Joan Donna Griffith, Courtney Wainsworth Walcott, John Sylvester White, Lloyd Stanford Brown, Kerene Gordon, Denise Marie Gregory, and Venesha Orintia Richards; Antigua’s Albert Gunnis Joseph, Emelda Perry and Catherina Henry-Robinson; Barbados’ Colin Arthur Bonnett, Pauline Francis and Melissa Renée Vincent; Mark Y. Gilles, Andre Bonheur, Jr.and Francois Jean-Pierre of Haiti; Rena Sam Dinnoo, Winston Arthur Grant, Stephen Joseph, Glenroy I. Neblett, Boyie Mohammed Clara Victorine Hinds, Anthony Portillo and Goumatie Thackurdeen of Trinidad and Tobago; Puerto Rico’s Edna Cintron, Rosa J. Gonzalez, Alexis Leduc
Ivan Vale, Santos Valentin Jr., Peter Vega, Norberto Hernandez, Diana B. Padro, Carmen Milagros Rodriguez, Sonia Mercedes Morales Puopolo, Carlos Segarra, Angel M. Pabon, Jr., Victor Daniel Barbosa, Carlos R. Lillo, Juan Nieves Jr., Waleska Martinez, Paul DeCola, Matthew Diaz, Milagros Hromada, Isaias Rivera, Linda Ivelisse RiveraIvan Antonio Perez; Jeffrey G. La Touche of Grenada, Kevin Patrick York and Rhondelle Cherie Tankard of Bermuda; Mexico’s Antonio Javier Alvarez and Brazil’s Ivan Kyrillos Fairbanks-Barbosa.
The list includes the victims’ names, ages and hometowns if available, affiliations of victims at the World Trade Center and the sites of their deaths. Passengers and crew members aboard the four jetliners, and where they crashed, are identified separately. In the cases of the three victims who died of post-9/11 illness, and more than a dozen others who died of their injuries days and weeks after the attacks, the dates of the victims’ deaths are listed.
Representative Yvette D. Clarke was among the many politicians remembering the nearly 3,000 lives lost on 9/11 Tuesday.
“Today we commemorate the eleventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks which sought to divide us as a nation, but instead united Americans as one people,” stated Representative Clarke, a daughter of Jamaican migrants. “We remember the lives lost and the families of the victims who mourn their loss—even today.
“As a nation, we have made steady progress to rebuild and honor their memories. The decision to recognize additional illnesses suffered by our courageous first responders under the Zadroga Act pays homage to their sacrifice during the recovery effort. We will never forget the very tragic events of 9/11, we will forever honor the legacy of love and courage left behind by so many loved ones, our heroes, first responders and members of the Armed Services,” concluded Representative Clarke. (Hayden Roger Celestin images)
