Mother of student killed during J'Ouvert praises city for trying to make festival safer

The mother of a college student killed during J'Ouvert last year is praising the city for trying to make the festival safer.

Tiarah Poyau, 22, was fatally shot during the Caribbean street party in Brooklyn, held in the early morning hours before the West Indian Day Parade.

A 17-year-old boy was also killed.

The violence prompted Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams to move the start time of the Labor Day weekend event. This year, it will start at 6 a.m. instead of 2 a.m.

Poyau's mother, Vertina Brown, helped push for the time change.

"I was all for it. I was one of the ones who helped come up with the idea for the early time," Brown said. "You know, I know a lot of partygoers don't necessarily agree with this new news, but it's really for the best because with the daylight comes security. You can see things better, clearer."

Carey Gabay, an aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo, was fatally shot in crossfire during J'Ouvert in 2015.