Jamaica Independence Anniversary Committee Calls For Awards Nominations, August 16, 2008, New York

The Jamaican community in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut is being invited to submit nominations for the Jamaica Independence Awards to be presented at this year’s Grand Independence Ball.  The event will take place on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at the New York Hilton Hotel & Towers at 1335 Sixth Avenue, Manhattan, under the distinguished patronage of the Consul General of New York, Mrs. Geneive Brown Metzger.

“The Committee is looking for qualified persons who have demonstrated leadership and whose work has and continues to impact positively on the community and Jamaica,” according to Paulette Willoughby, Co-Chair of the Jamaica Independence Anniversary Committee (JIAC), the entity charged with the planning and staging of the Independence Ball in celebration of Jamaica’s 46th Anniversary of Independence.

Nominations will be accepted in two categories: Youth (ages 18-25), and Adult (26 years and older). The responses will be evaluated on a number of criteria including but not limited to contribution to and impact on the Jamaican Diaspora over the last ten plus years.

Nomination forms are available on-line at the Consulate General of Jamaica’s website, www.congenjamaica-ny.org. Forms are also available at the Consulate General of Jamaica and can be returned to JIAC via fax at, 212-935-7508 or by mail to JIAC, c/o Consulate General of Jamaica, 767 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017.

Nomination forms should be postmarked no later than Wednesday, July 9, 2008.

In addition to the Grand Ball, Independence Celebration will include a church service, art exhibition and a flag-raising ceremony at the Brooklyn Borough Hall, downtown Brooklyn, on Thursday, August 07, at 2:00 pm. Additional information on the full calendar of events can be viewed on the Consulate’s website or may be obtained by calling (212) 935-9000 Ext 32.

Sponsors to date include; Air Jamaica Ltd., Rose Hall Developments, Quality Ford, Tower Isle, Heineken, Mutual of America, Golden Krust Bakery & Grill, and BET.