Staff WriterSenator Dr. Ronald Robinson, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, will pay a courtesy call on the President of Essex County College, in Newark, NJ, on Wednesday afternoon, April 22.
Dr. Robinson will use the occasion to convey thanks and appreciation on behalf of the government and people of Jamaica and the Diaspora community to Dr. A Zachary Yamba, for providing a nurturing environment for the many Jamaicans studying at the college.
Last year, Dr. Yamba and faculty members stage an emotional homecoming for a dozen college alumni who competed successfully at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Of that number, six were Jamaicans.
Later that evening, Dr. Robinson will hear from Jamaican nationals in north New Jersey at a town hall meeting at the East Orange Campus High School, at 340 Prospect Street, East Orange, the third of four such meetings with the Diaspora community on this trip.
Dr. Robinson wrapped up a busy second day on Saturday with his second town hall meeting at the North Bronx SDA Church, Bronx, telling constituents there that the government will be paying very careful attention to a number of key sectors based on budget allocation.
These, Dr. Robinson said would be – in no particular order – education, healthcare, agriculture and national security.
“We have decided that agriculture is the way to go. If you visit the supermarkets in Jamaica now, you will notice a spike in the production of yams, potatoes and other ground provisions, as more and more persons turn to farming and agriculture.”
In a wide ranging presentation, Senator Robinson noted that;
* the current global financial and economic crises have forced the government to cut and carve the national agenda,
* though murders remain at an unacceptable level, figures were trending downwards, in the right direction.
* the country is facing a major challenge in re-establishing the rule of law.
* the easing of US travel restrictions to Cuba could be a blessing in disguise for Jamaica’s tourism industry.
Senator, Dr. Robinson who is on an official visit to the northeast USA, spent Sunday morning as guest of the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (UJAA) at the organization’s first annual worship service at the Bronx Westchester Community Church, pastured by Rev. Lennox Martin.
Senator Robinson and Mrs. Robinson were greeted by President Karlene Largie and a congregation that included representatives from thirty (30) members associations of UJAA.
On Friday – April 24 – Senator Robinson will discuss potential trade and investment opportunities with members of the Philadelphia Trade Council in Philadelphia during lunch, pay a courtesy call on Mayor Michael Nutter at City Hall before engaging Philadelphia Jamaicans at a town hall forum at the University of Pennsylvania, starting at 7:00 pm.
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