Funny thing, only this morning I was thinking of our late Jalil from GNI.

 Jalil and I were friends from Guyana but we reconnected in New York while partying at the Benab. 

I remembered him from school days plus they lived not too far away.  

Dem was some good small days.

I thought that he died form a heart attack.

He is Churchill relative.

RIP 

Chief, was he related to churchill, mel carpen?

Drugb posted:

Chief, was he related to churchill, mel carpen?

Yep, I think they are either first or second cousins.

Chief posted:

Drugb posted:

Chief, was he related to churchill, mel carpen?

Yep, I think they are either first or second cousins.

Back in the 80's I used to drive all the way from Jersey to go to the Benab. Back then not so many Guyanese in RH as there is now. 

My condolences to the family.

My deepest condolences and sympathies to the Carpen family. 

I think I went to the Benab twice

RIP

The first time i went to the Benab I was denied entry because I was wearing Jeans.  Back then Dem Berbicians did not hesitate to dress in suit and blazers to go to clubs  

My condolences to his family.

It was a Berbice an that started the first Guyanese club in NY.

Berbicians are pace setters!

Druggie we probably crossed paths because I was a regular at the Benab.

Chief posted:

Just learnt of the passing of a friend who I did not see in some time, Renee Carpen.

He was the owner of The Benab, one of the first Guyanese night club in Queens NY. I came to this country in 1987 and Benab was the place to be at.

Renee was always friendly and hospitable, he was also a  devoted son to his late parents and very supportive of his extended family. He was a successful businessman and always gave back to our community.

I heard he suffered from lung cancer that eventually caused his death.a Back in the days, all the clubs allowed smoking and they had little or no ventilation. I guess he  became a victim from his own business.

Renee and I had some great time together when we were young and in the club days.

Rest in Peace my brother and friend!

A True Pioneer. RIP. Any connection to Carpen's Plumbing on Jamaica Avenue?

Yes, he is one of the owners.

ok, thanks....

Abu Jihad posted:

I remembered him from school days plus they lived not too far away.  

Dem was some good small days.

I thought that he died form a heart attack.

He is Churchill relative.

RIP 

Yes we first cousins . He died from a form of lung cancer .....

Another cousin passed on about a month ago because of a heart attack. He was Chandradath Carpen the son of Vernon Carpen , a New Amsterdam business owner .

Chief posted:

Drugb posted:

Chief, was he related to churchill, mel carpen?

Yep, I think they are either first or second cousins.

We were first cousins.

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

The first time i went to the Benab I was denied entry because I was wearing Jeans.  Back then Dem Berbicians did not hesitate to dress in suit and blazers to go to clubs  

My condolences to his family.

 

We started the Benab on Old Years' nite in 1983. One of the goals was to offer the Guyanese community a place of family entertainment . The dress code was very strict. In later years the name was changed to the Savannah.

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

The first time i went to the Benab I was denied entry because I was wearing Jeans.  Back then Dem Berbicians did not hesitate to dress in suit and blazers to go to clubs  

My condolences to his family.

 

you bum

Chief posted:

It was a Berbice an that started the first Guyanese club in NY.

Berbicians are pace setters!

Druggie we probably crossed paths because I was a regular at the Benab.

There was a Guyanese dance hall in 1981 which was called the Hillside Casino. It was very popular at first but was unable to command the loyality of the Guyanese party goers.

 

A True Pioneer. RIP. Any connection to Carpen's Plumbing on Jamaica Avenue?

Yes the club , hardware , plumbing and cabinet making establishments were all part of Carpen, Inc.

Thank you to all who expressed their condolences to our family on the passing of Rennie Carpen .

Churchill posted:

Abu Jihad posted:

I remembered him from school days plus they lived not too far away.  

Dem was some good small days.

I thought that he died form a heart attack.

He is Churchill relative.

RIP 

Yes we first cousins . He died from a form of lung cancer .....

Another cousin passed on about a month ago because of a heart attack. He was Chandradath Carpen the son of Vernon Carpen , a New Amsterdam business owner .

Sorry to hear about Vernon's son. If my memory serves me correctly, his sons were heavy built, but I am speaking from way back in the 80's in New Amsterdam.

Churchill posted:

Chief posted:

It was a Berbice an that started the first Guyanese club in NY.

Berbicians are pace setters!

Druggie we probably crossed paths because I was a regular at the Benab.

There was a Guyanese dance hall in 1981 which was called the Hillside Casino. It was very popular at first but was unable to command the loyality of the Guyanese party goers.

The owner was Vishnu Bandu?

warrior posted:

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

The first time i went to the Benab I was denied entry because I was wearing Jeans.  Back then Dem Berbicians did not hesitate to dress in suit and blazers to go to clubs  

My condolences to his family.

 

you bum

When you good-looking you don't have to dress up too much.

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

warrior posted:

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

The first time i went to the Benab I was denied entry because I was wearing Jeans.  Back then Dem Berbicians did not hesitate to dress in suit and blazers to go to clubs  

My condolences to his family.

 

you bum

When you good-looking you don't have to dress up too much.

Suh you saying you is a "looker"

Django posted:

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

warrior posted:

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

The first time i went to the Benab I was denied entry because I was wearing Jeans.  Back then Dem Berbicians did not hesitate to dress in suit and blazers to go to clubs  

My condolences to his family.

 

you bum

When you good-looking you don't have to dress up too much.

Suh you saying you is a "looker"

Na! Na! A saying "good looking" not Handsome like Mel. Mel used to walk around in blazers with an attache case to impress the girls. 

Churchill posted:

Thank you to all who expressed their condolences to our family on the passing of Rennie Carpen .

Churchill, my condolences.

Me recently saw Milli and talked with her and her sister about Renee. She also sends her condolences. But its difficult for her to travel much.

Chief posted:

Churchill posted:

Chief posted:

It was a Berbice an that started the first Guyanese club in NY.

Berbicians are pace setters!

Druggie we probably crossed paths because I was a regular at the Benab.

There was a Guyanese dance hall in 1981 which was called the Hillside Casino. It was very popular at first but was unable to command the loyality of the Guyanese party goers.

The owner was Vishnu Bandu?

Chief, my indenture labourer great grandparents were Bandu or Bandoo [spell differently in documents] and I have only  been able to trace back their name, not their India village. I would like to know more about them. 

They lived at #43 village and Port Mourant.  Where was/is Vishnu Bandu from in Guyana ?

Churchill posted:

 

A True Pioneer. RIP. Any connection to Carpen's Plumbing on Jamaica Avenue?

Yes the club , hardware , plumbing and cabinet making establishments were all part of Carpen, Inc.

My condolence to you and your family.

Tola posted:

Chief posted:

Churchill posted:

Chief posted:

It was a Berbice an that started the first Guyanese club in NY.

Berbicians are pace setters!

Druggie we probably crossed paths because I was a regular at the Benab.

There was a Guyanese dance hall in 1981 which was called the Hillside Casino. It was very popular at first but was unable to command the loyality of the Guyanese party goers.

The owner was Vishnu Bandu?

Chief, my indenture labourer great grandparents were Bandu or Bandoo [spell differently in documents] and I have only  been able to trace back their name, not their India village. I would like to know more about them. 

They lived at #43 village and Port Mourant.  Where was/is Vishnu Bandu from in Guyana ?

He is from Vreed-en-hoop WCD.

Django posted:

Tola posted:

Chief posted:

Churchill posted:

Chief posted:

It was a Berbice an that started the first Guyanese club in NY.

Berbicians are pace setters!

Druggie we probably crossed paths because I was a regular at the Benab.

There was a Guyanese dance hall in 1981 which was called the Hillside Casino. It was very popular at first but was unable to command the loyality of the Guyanese party goers.

The owner was Vishnu Bandu?

Chief, my indenture labourer great grandparents were Bandu or Bandoo [spell differently in documents] and I have only  been able to trace back their name, not their India village. I would like to know more about them. 

They lived at #43 village and Port Mourant.  Where was/is Vishnu Bandu from in Guyana ?

He is from Vreed-en-hoop WCD.

Thanks Chief. 

I would really like to find out more about my GGP, but the archives dont give much information. That India connection is broken for our family.

It looks like knowing their ship is a clue. 

Chief posted:

It was a Berbice an that started the first Guyanese club in NY.

Berbicians are pace setters!

Druggie we probably crossed paths because I was a regular at the Benab.

Larry's Liquid Love in Brooklyn was around before the Benab.

Django posted:

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

warrior posted:

Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

The first time i went to the Benab I was denied entry because I was wearing Jeans.  Back then Dem Berbicians did not hesitate to dress in suit and blazers to go to clubs  

My condolences to his family.

 

you bum

When you good-looking you don't have to dress up too much.

Suh you saying you is a "looker"

Billy looks like a young Billy Bob Thornton.   The early 80s were Saturday Night Fever times and my brothers used to go to these hangouts dressed like John Travolta. 

Mars posted:

Chief posted:

It was a Berbice an that started the first Guyanese club in NY.

Berbicians are pace setters!

Druggie we probably crossed paths because I was a regular at the Benab.

Larry's Liquid Love in Brooklyn was around before the Benab.

Yes that used to be the required stop for Guyanese in the early 80s.

Tola posted:

 

It looks like knowing their ship is a clue. 

Yes. Several years ago there used to be discussion on this and apparently there has been work at developing a register. 

Problem will be the spelling of names as many of the indentures were illiterate and the majority certainly unable to communicate with the immigration officers In English, who then spelled the names phonetically as they heard it. Also some only gave one name.

Few years ago I was a personal banker at a bank. I noticed quite a few immigrants, mostly Bangladeshi, had the first name Fnu on their passports. I had never heard of that name. Found out that it meant First Name Unknown. When they came here and only gave one name, the immigration officer put FNU.

Tola posted:

Django posted:

Tola posted:

Chief posted:

Churchill posted:

Chief posted:

It was a Berbice an that started the first Guyanese club in NY.

Berbicians are pace setters!

Druggie we probably crossed paths because I was a regular at the Benab.

There was a Guyanese dance hall in 1981 which was called the Hillside Casino. It was very popular at first but was unable to command the loyality of the Guyanese party goers.

The owner was Vishnu Bandu?

Chief, my indenture labourer great grandparents were Bandu or Bandoo [spell differently in documents] and I have only  been able to trace back their name, not their India village. I would like to know more about them. 

They lived at #43 village and Port Mourant.  Where was/is Vishnu Bandu from in Guyana ?

He is from Vreed-en-hoop WCD.

Thanks Chief. 

I would really like to find out more about my GGP, but the archives dont give much information. That India connection is broken for our family.

It looks like knowing their ship is a clue. 

Sorry Django fa callin you Chief.  Sometimes me feel you and Chief ah growmatch buddy,  an you even look de same. But me tink you ah  mo handsome.  

Me had a wonderful host today, who treated me wid a delicious lunch and wonderful conversation.  

GTAngler posted:

Few years ago I was a personal banker at a bank. I noticed quite a few immigrants, mostly Bangladeshi, had the first name Fnu on their passports. I had never heard of that name. Found out that it meant First Name Unknown. When they came here and only gave one name, the immigration officer put FNU.

Thanks Carib and GT.

My mother's signature at the bank was her thumb print, witnessed by the teller. I still have her RBC bank book, with a distinct thumb print, because her thumb  was injured  earlier in her life. 

A further confusion for some indenture labourers was, the one name could be their  first or last name. 

Churchill posted:

Abu Jihad posted:

I remembered him from school days plus they lived not too far away.  

Dem was some good small days.

I thought that he died form a heart attack.

He is Churchill relative.

RIP 

Yes we first cousins . He died from a form of lung cancer .....

Another cousin passed on about a month ago because of a heart attack. He was Chandradath Carpen the son of Vernon Carpen , a New Amsterdam business owner .

Thanks for the clarification Churchill, I thought that they were the same person.

I went to school with Vernons kids.

Mars posted:

Chief posted:

It was a Berbice an that started the first Guyanese club in NY.

Berbicians are pace setters!

Druggie we probably crossed paths because I was a regular at the Benab.

Larry's Liquid Love in Brooklyn was around before the Benab.

There was also another Guyanese place in Brooklyn, I forgot the name.