Jamaica’s Ambassador to the US, His Excellency Stephen Vasciannie will deliver the keynote address at the third Annual Jamaican American Bar Association’s (JABA) Awards and Scholarship Gala in New York, on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

The Black Tie Gala will take place at the LaGuardia Plaza Hotel at the LaGuardia Airport, Queens, starting at 7:00 pm.

In addition to benefiting students attending law school in Jamaica and the USA, funds raised from the event will go towards the establishing of a Jamaican Legal Defense Fund (JLDF) to help overseas nationals in need of legal representation.

According to Joan Pinnock, Attorney and President of JABA/ NE, “the organization continues to address issues that are unique to our nationals, through seminars and legal advice”.

She noted that last year JABA/NE addressed the issue of surviving in difficult economic times. In 2010, JABA/NE prevented several Jamaicans from being deported and was successful in returning one Jamaican national to the USA after he was deported.

The organization will recognize three individuals for exemplary service. Those being honored are the Honorable Judge Stephen Drummond Judge of the Village of Freeport, New York, recipient of the Magistrate’s Award; and Philadelphia Attorney Wayne Bennett Esq., receiving the Barrister’s Award. The community leadership award will be presented to Paulette Willoughby, Chair of the Jamaican Independence Celebration Foundation, Inc, organizers of the annual Jamaica Independence Ball in NYC.

Funnyman Oliver ‘Yuh Large’ Samuels, whose unscripted tumble off the stage last year, sent the audience into stitches, returns for his second stint as master of ceremonies.

This year’s theme is “Promoting Health, Wealth and Prosperity”.