Hastick, Caribbean-American Business Leader, passes

BY BEN FANG

Dr. Roy Hastick, founder of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, passed away on April 9. He was 69 years old.

The Grenada native founded the statewide Caribbean-American business organization in August 1985 to help startups and small businesses thrive. The group offers assistance in business planning, financing, certification, procurement, business expansion and more.

Hastick spent decades as a community advocate, newspaper publisher and entrepreneur before starting the group. In a statement, Borough President Eric Adams said Brooklyn mourns Hastick’s passing with “profound sadness” and a huge sense of loss.

“Dr. Hastick’s longstanding commitment to representing the interests of Caribbean people and business at the Brooklyn, New York City and New York State levels,” Adams said, “and his steadfast endeavors to strengthen commercial links between the Caribbean and the diaspora is unparalleled, and will not soon be forgotten.

“I will cherish the decades-long collaboration and friendship that he and I shared,” he added.

Gregg Bishop, commissioner of the city’s Department of Small Business Services (SBS), said in a statement that the city has lost an advocate, community leader, mentor and friend in Hastick. He noted that the Caribbean-American business leader supported the reinvestment of the minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) program, and that he dedicated his life to public service.

“Many will remember the way he continuously fought, not for himself, but for those around him,” Bishop said. “Dr. Roy Hastick was a rare individual who passionately did what he believed in.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a tweet that he and First Lady Chirlane McCray have lost a friend in Hastick as well.

“Dr. Roy Hastick’s smile lit up a room,” de Blasio wrote. “His passion and work for our Caribbean communities and small businesses will be felt for generations to come.”

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