Brooklyn Street Co-Named To Honor Jamaican Immigrant

By News Americas Staff Writer

News Americas, BROOKLYN, NY, Sat. Aug. 9, 2025: The corner of Church Avenue and St. Paul’s Place in Brooklyn, NY now bears a new name – Leroy Johnson Way. It is an honor to the life and legacy of the late Jamaican-born activist who became a driving force for housing justice and community empowerment in Flatbush.

Brooklyn has co-named Church Ave & St. Paul’s Place as Leroy Johnson Way, honoring the late Jamaican immigrant and housing rights leader who fought for justice in Flatbush for decades. (Instagram image)

The street co-naming ceremony, led by New York City Council Member Rita Joseph, paid tribute to Johnson’s decades-long commitment to organizing, advocacy, and social change.

“As we unveiled this street sign, we are reminded that true change starts at the grassroots – when we come together, organize, and uplift one another. Let Leroy’s name be a permanent reminder that our power lies in our unity,” said Councilmember Joseph.

Johnson, who passed away on July 6, 2024, was the chair of the New York Communities for Change (NYCC) Flatbush Chapter since 2010. Under his leadership, the chapter grew its membership and took part in dozens of campaigns — from the Fight for $15 to securing Universal Pre-K for New York City children.

A leading figure in New York’s tenant movement, Johnson helped form numerous tenant organizations across Flatbush and played a key role in the 2018 campaign to strengthen rent laws. During the pandemic, he championed the push for the nation’s longest-running eviction moratorium and helped secure more than $2 billion in rental assistance for struggling New Yorkers.

“As President of our Flatbush Chapter, Leroy organized, empowered, and uplifted his neighbors every single day. This street co-naming is a powerful reminder of the legacy he leaves behind — one of service, love, and enduring community power,” said NYCC Executive Director Olivia Leirer.

Beyond activism, Johnson started a monthly pop-up food and essentials pantry in 2020, provided PPE to residents, and launched an annual sleeping bag drive for homeless New Yorkers. His community leadership began in his native St. Mary, Jamaica, where at age 14 he led a youth club for the Social Development Commission.

After immigrating to New York in 1997, Johnson worked as a security guard before opening a store on Flatbush Avenue in 2004. His life’s work — from grassroots organizing to legislative victories — now lives on at the intersection of Church Avenue and St. Paul’s Place, a lasting marker of his impact.

Caribbean Citizenship Programs To Get First-Ever Regional Regulator

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Aug. 8, 2025: The much heralded Caribbean Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program – long a lightning rod for both global scrutiny and investor interest – is about to enter a new era of regional oversight.

In a rare show of unity, five Eastern Caribbean nations – Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, and St. Lucia – will jointly enact legislation this September creating the region’s first-ever regulator for these programs.

This move follows nearly two years of high-level diplomacy and tense negotiations with the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, all of which have pressed for tighter controls amid global concerns over illicit finance and security loopholes.

The new watchdog will wield binding authority to set common standards, enforce stricter due diligence (including mandatory biometric collection at applicant interviews), and coordinate closely with CARICOM’s crime and security arm to vet all applicants through a centralised portal.

For the OECS, the shift isn’t just about compliance – it’s about survival. CBI revenues have been critical lifelines for small island economies battered by hurricanes, COVID-19, and global economic shocks, funding everything from infrastructure to climate resilience projects.

Officials say the unified regulator is designed to protect both the economic lifeblood of the islands and the reputations of their passports in the eyes of the world — ensuring the programmes remain viable, secure, and credible for decades to come.

As the OECS Commission put it: “Dismantling these programmes would severely compromise the prospects and prosperity of these countries… This is about safeguarding our future.”

“The key objectives of the regulator are to help enhance the transparency, security and sustainability of these vital Programmes. The regulator will issue binding standards on all CBI/CIP Units (CIUs) and all licensees involved with these programmes,” the OECS Commission said, adding that there is now  the collection of biometrics for all new applicants.

“Biometrics will be collected at the time of the interview, which is part of the application process. This provision is intended to enhance the security of these programmes by further strengthening the vetting process of all applications.”