Guyanese produced documentary shows impact of casino on Richmond Hill

A Guyanese community organization, Indo-Caribbean Alliance, based in Richmond Hill has produced a video documentary on the impact of the introduction of casino gambling at Aqueduct race track. The documentary is titled “Racino: End of an American Dream” and it can be viewed on You Tube or ordered from the ICA.

The ICA is a not for profit non-partisan organization dedicated to the struggle for economic justice, civil rights and empowerment. The video is a personal account of some of the 500 vendors, many of whom were Guyanese, who lost their jobs at the former Aqueduct Flea Market which is displaced with casino gambling by the state government a year ago. Aqueduct occupies some 192 acres of prime land owned by the state. The location is very close to JFK and has access to mass transit. It has huge economic potential and the Governor of the state, Andy Cuomo, last month proposed to build the largest convention hall in the state.

The flea market was located on the parking lot of the race track at Aqueduct which also serve as an emergency shelter. The flea market offered a hodgepodge of goods, like bedding, incense and pots and pans. People who shopped there said the flea market used to have nice and good stuff – real shoes, posters, jewelry, pocket books, household items, homemade home goods, food, beauty items, clothing, school supplies, house wares, etc. Many Guyanese used to shop there for great bargains to send items back home.

Some 1500 workers, hundreds of whom are Guyanese, lost their jobs when the market was closed and none of them were given any advance notice or retraining for other jobs or any relocation assistance to continue their trade. After being in existence for over 30 years, the vendors were evicted to make way for New York City’s first casino called Racino. The loss of jobs among Guyanese vendors has added to the swell of the unemployed in the city and hurting their life styles. In an interview with a newspaper, Savitri Harry, 47, who used to sell jewelry at Aqueduct on the weekends said: “I can’t pay my bills without the market. I can’t.”

The title of the film, says the producers, is inspired by Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech to struggle for equality and economic self reliance. The film was commissioned by the Indo-Caribbean Alliance and was directed by award-winning filmmaker Steve Rahaman with the cooperation of the Aqueduct Flea Market Vendors Association. The narrator is a Guyanese as are several of the interviewees. The concept, production and filming began in August 2010 while interviews, editing, music and other post production activities continued through October 2011. The film was funded entirely by donations from the general public and was released this month.