On Monday, September 4, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz embraced his “Trinidadian roots” at the 39th annual West Indian Labor Day Carnival Parade. The Labor Day Carnival Parade marks the unofficial end of summer in New York City and the culmination of several live cultural programs presented by the West Indian-American Carnival Association.

Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham, a proud native of Jamaica, co-hosted the Carnival Association’s breakfast before a parade of dignitaries, dancers, and music crews wound down Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, the undisputed Caribbean Capital of America. Over 2 million people from around the world attended the parade, making New York’s annual Labor Day Carnival the largest one-day cultural celebration in all of North America.

“If you haven’t been part of the Labor Day Carnival Parade, you truly haven’t lived yet,” said Borough President Markowitz. “I salute Chairman Emeritus Carlos Lezama, President Yolanda Lezama-Clark, all the individuals of the West Indian-American Day Carnival Association, and all of this year’s fabulous bands and participants for carrying on the beautiful traditions of Caribbean arts and culture for all Brooklynites to discover and cherish, especially on the occasion of New York City’s largest and most dazzling parade!”