Staff WriterJAMAICA CUSTOMS AGENCY USES DIASPORA TO EXPLAIN CHARITIES ACT—01/03/15
The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) is using individuals in the Diaspora to explain the new requirements and regulations of the Charities Act. The law governs all charities that do business in Jamaica, or plan to do business on the island. The agency has held a number of meetings with Diaspora representatives since 2013 to ensure the new regulations are followed.
JAMAICA BROILERS CHICKEN DIVISION TO EXPORT TO TURKS & CAICOS—01/04/15
The Best Dressed Chicken division of the Jamaica Broilers Group has expanded its export capabilities to include Turks and Caicos. According to Joan Forrest-Henry, divisional sales and marketing manager, the division has always had a strong presence in the Caymans and decided to expand into other markets in the region.
DIASPORA GROUP CONCERNED ABOUT KILLING OFWOMAN BY TEENS—01/05/15
A Jamaican Diaspora group based in New York, Friends of Trelawny, has expressed concerns about the killing of Hyacinth Hayden, 79, a retired Falmouth Hospital nurse, by two 16-year-olds. According to Cyril Brissett, superintendent, the police are satisfied with the investigation and believe they have apprehended the right suspects, one of whom had Hayden’s cell phone. Members of the Diaspora group were shocked by the killing as some of them wanted to return to Jamaica, just as Hayden had done.
NEW BOOK CELEBRATES JAMAICAN CULTURE VIA LIFE OF GARNETT MYRIE—01/06/15
A new book, “Bad Boy from Jamaica,” by Dr. Basil Waine Kong, uses the life of Garnett Myrie to explore the facets of life in Jamaica, good and bad. Myrie fought in the war for liberation in Angola and then returned to the home island and became a successful business leader and politician. Kong believes Myrie embodied the lifestyle of growing up in Jamaica at that specific period of time.
FOUNDATION GIVES US$38,000 FOR PURCHASE OF EBOLA-DETECTION DEVICE—01/07/15
The Vincent HoSang Family Foundation has given US$38,000 to buy a thermal sensing unit to help personnel at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston prepare for Ebola. The donation is the first Diaspora-donated thermal sensing unit. The presentation of the check for the equipment occurred in December 2014 after an appeal from the Jamaican Consulate, which was leading the Jamaica Ebola Prevention Program response among members of the Diaspora.
ERRANDS FIRM CREATED TO MEET NEEDS OF DIASPORA—01/08/15
A start-up firm in New York operated by Marlon Willie of Jamaica is looking to meet the needs of Jamaicans in the Diaspora by providing a way for them to run errands on the island. Mango Errands offers Jamaicans overseas to use local representatives to perform various tasks, large and small, for a fee of US$40 to US$50. These may include helping an elderly relative get to a doctor or buying school items for children.
MARLEYS TO PERFORM AT MUSIC FESTIVAL IN FLORIDA—01/09/15
The 22nd annual 9 Mile Music Festival scheduled for February 14, 2015, will features Stephen, Damian, Julian and Jo Mersa Marley. The event will be held at the Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds. Also slated to perform are Soja, Jesse Royal, Capelton, Tanya Stephens, The Green and Iqulah Rastafari. The festival is arguably the most popular South Florida music event and honors the life and beliefs of reggae legend Bob Marley.
“LADIES BALL” FEATURES JAMAICAN PERFORMERS—01/09/15
A number of Jamaican acts will be featured at the Ladies Ball event in February 2015. Included in the line-up are Cocoa Tea, Sanchez and Richie Stephens. According to the promoter of the show, Bobby Clarke, the event is “all about romance” and is scheduled to be close to Valentine’s Day. This will be the second staging of the show
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