FLORIDA MAN RECEIVES SENTENCE FOR INVOLVEMENT IN LOTTERY SCAM—04/04/15
Mikhail Williams, 26, of Broward, Florida, admitted taking part in a Jamaican lottery scam targeting senior citizens in the United States. The Jamaica was sentenced to almost six years in a federal prison. According to Williams, he handled over US$87 thousand in cash and wire transfers from 21 elderly people who believed they had won a lottery or sweepstakes prize.
CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN PUBLISHER IN CONNECTICUT CLAIMS INTIMIDATION—04/05/15
Ann-Marie Adams, who is an American citizen with Jamaican and Honduran heritage, says that “political operatives” in Connecticut have intimidated and assaulted her for her role as the editor of The Hartford Guardian. She said that beginning in April 2014, operatives have used “stealth tactics” to bring her a series of misfortunes so that she would stop writing.
JAMAICA DIASPORA REACTS TO VISIT BY U.S. PRESIDENT TO THE ISLAND—04/06/15
Members of the Jamaican Diaspora in the United States have expressed strong interest in the trip to Jamaica by President Barack Obama on April 8 and 9, 2015. Dr. Richard Bernal, former Jamaican ambassador to the U.S. and Consul for Jamaica at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) believes the visit represents a very positive development for the home country. It offers an opportunity to tell the President about the issues of concern to Jamaica.
WOMAN WITH JAMAICAN TIES ATTEMPTS TO JOIN ISIS—04/07/15
Keonna Thomas, 30, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested on a charge of trying to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization. She was charged with supporting the Islamic State (IS) and planned to travel overseas to join the group. After applying for a passport in February 2015, Thomas sent an email to a cleric in Jamaica to tell him she planned to go to Syria.
LUCIANO VISITS ZIMBABWE—04/08/15
Jamaican musician Luciano, also known as The Messenger, will perform in Zimbabwe after an absence of eight years from that country. He will share the event with local artistes, and he will also participate in a “mix-and-mingle” event with local fans. Luciano will be backed by the Hotta Fire Band of Jamaican musicians.
JAMAICAN WOMAN IN IRELAND HOMELESS AFTER SUFFERING RACIST VIOLENCE—04/09/15
Kerry Ann Brown, a Jamaican living in Ireland, said she had to leave her home following racist attacks in 2014. She currently lives in a hostel after moving from her home due to the attacks. She believes that she and her family are being stereotyped on the basis of their ethnicity.
JAMAICANS IN WINNIPEG SHOCKED AT DEATH OF WOMAN—04/10/15
Gloria Davey, 72, was hit by a bus in Winnipeg, and the entire community of Jamaicans in that city is mourning the loss of one of the community’s most well-known members. The president of the Winnipeg Jamaican Association noted that he was “stunned” to hear of the death of Davey.
REPARATIONS COMMISSION TO LAUNCH—04/10/15
Many advocates of reparations, including Pan-Africans and social justice organizations in the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada are set to meet in New York City April 9 through the 12th, 2015 to mark the launch of the National African-American Reparations Commission (NAARC). Including in the committee is Professor Verene Shepherd of Jamaica.
