Guyanese Family Still Living In Fear A Year Later!

[Mimbari]

Guyanese Family Still Living In Fear A Year Later!

Kris Gouden

CaribWorldNews, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Sept. 4, 2008: More than a year
after their story first made city headlines, the Gounden family of
Howard Beach claim they are still being harassed by neighbors in what
they charge are racially motivated efforts to get them to leave the
neighborhood.

`Our lives have become more endangered than ever before,` said Kris
Gounden, an aircraft technician who moved to a waterfront property on
Howard Beach, Queens, in July 2006. Since then he`s been subjected to
racial insults, outright threats, and defacement of his property
while, he says, local police turn a blind eye. Gounden also alleges
that community bureaucrats have saddled him with thousands of dollars
in fines for what he claims are trumped up property violations in an
attempt to run him and his family out of the neighborhood. He`s
currently challenging the violations in court.

`This is blatant discrimination,` said Gounden. `We have a number of
neighbors calling us the N-word, telling us we don`t belong here.`
Gounden said his family now lives in a prison-like environment. The
NYPD`s Hate Crimes Unit has posted security cameras around their
property and Gounden has installed a huge, heavy gate in front their
drive-way. `It fell on my wife and she sprained her ankle one time,`
said Gounden, `But this is how we live.`

Gounden said while he fears for the safety of his family, its
difficult for them to leave because they have a lot invested in the
house, including two mortgages. He`s been pleading in vain for help
from city officials and community activists. But he`s gotten sympathy,
advice and little else. Gouden has decided to take matters into his
own hands in what he calls a grassroots effort to get people to listen
to his plight. He`s going to tour college campuses, radio stations,
`wherever people are listening,` towing the little yellow garden wagon
he was given a `ridiculous` citation for. It now has a license plate
to comply with regulations that don`t seem to apply to his neighbors.
He`s also gathering the photos, videos and documents that chronicle
his experience to post them online.

Things came to a head in August last year, when a 19-year-old
neighbor, Michael Hussey, charged on to the Gounden`s property while
they were entertaining guests. Brandishing a baseball bat, He shouted
obscenities and the N-world, and threatened to kill those present.
Officers from the 106th Precinct responded to Gounden`s call for help
but they refused to arrest Hussey. He was only taken into custody
after Gounden complained to higher ups. Hussey was subsequently freed
when a grand jury declined to prosecute. Gounden charge state
attorneys with not aggressively pursue the case. Since then things
have not gotten better for the Goundens, who include Gounden`s wife
Cheryl, his stepdaughters Vena, 15, and Mena, 12, son Kristopher, two,
and daughter Krista, one.

Ratcheting up a pattern of harassment that started when the family
first moved in, neighbors stand in front their home, blocking their
driveway, and all manner of things are dumped on their property,
including, Gouden said, dog feces, women`s underwear and beer bottles.
`This is blatant discrimination,` said Gounden. `We have a number of
neighbors calling us the N-word, telling us we don`t belong here.`

`People say I`m brave,` he added. `I don`t know if I`m brave, but I
have to stand up.` - By Erline Andrews/CWN/NY