NEW YORK, United States (CMC) — New York has unveiled new safety measures ahead of the traditional West Indian-American J’Ouvert festivities in Brooklyn on Labour Day, the first Monday in September.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L Adams and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner William J Bratton, were among city officials who unveiled “WeAreJOuvert,” a campaign comprising public safety and community outreach efforts to be undertaken by a coalition of local stakeholders.

The Brooklyn-based J’Ouvert City International President, Trinidadian Yvette Rennie, said “as keepers of a culture that is grounded in artistic expression and national pride that we brought with us from the Caribbean, we must continue to celebrate in a safe environment.

“To gangs in our community, we say ‘put down the guns.’ Brooklyn comes to life with our culture,” he added.

Adams said that the changes prioritize the safety of residents and revellers alike during the popular celebration of Caribbean culture.

“Public safety is an all-in commitment, a partnership between community and police to advance the quality of life in our neighbourhoods and ensure we have safe spaces to celebrate our cultural pride,” he said.

“I look forward to seeing our city come together in the weeks ahead to raise up the Caribbean spirit that enlivens Brooklyn every summer. Equally important, I ask all Brooklynites to stand with the NYPD and community advocates that are working to advance peace in our streets, rooting out violence from every corner of our borough,” he added.

Bratton said the “NYPD is committed to ensuring public safety at this very well-attended cultural celebration, which will be reflected in the Departmental resources…that will be deployed,” while Mayor Bill deBlasio said the city’s West Indian Day celebrations “highlight the rich and historical contributions of Caribbean culture across our five boroughs.

“The community stands united, together with clergy, elected officials, and my administration, in wholly rejecting the small number of individuals who have tried to hijack the spirit of this day with violence,” he said.

New York State Senator Jesse Hamilton, representative for the 20th Senatorial District in Brooklyn, said the “WeAreJOuvert” campaign “represents a critical step forward in bringing the community and police together to host an inclusive celebration of Caribbean heritage.

“We need this kind of cross-community engagement, including outreach, establishing partnerships between anti-violence community groups, neighbourhood leaders, clergy, and local police,” he said.