JAMAICAN-BORN SCHOOL PRINCIPAL HONORED IN PHILADELPHIA—05/02/15
Dr. Karren Dunkley, the Jamaican-born principal of Parkway Center City High School, has been included in a group of seven educators deemed the best principals in the Philadelphia School District. She and the others received the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Distinguished Principal Award. The award provides a stipend of $20,000 for Dunkley’s school.
U.S. IMMIGRATION BOARD FINDS JAMAICAN LEGISLATION PROBLEMATIC—05/03/15
According to a finding from the United States Board of Immigration, legislation in Jamaica makes a child illegitimate if parents are not married. While some in Jamaica believed the illegitimacy standard had been revoked in Jamaica, the U.S. has proved that belief to be in error. This has an impact on immigration proceedings in which an individual claims U.S. citizenship on the basis of a parent obtaining citizenship in that country.
WOMAN IN CLARENDON VICTIM OF OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT SCAM—05/04/15
A woman in Clarendon lost over $30,000 after making a payment to an individual purporting to work for Jamaica’s Ministry of Labor and Social Security who promised to place her in the Canadian Farm Work Program. The scammer said he was helping a friend meet the quota for individuals to go on the Canadian program.
CUSTOMS OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK FIND JAMAICAN COCAINE SMUGGLER—05/05/15
Romario Lewis of Jamaica was apprehended by United States Customs officials at John. F. Kennedy International Airport after being caught attempting to smuggle one pound of cocaine in his underwear. Lewis had just flown to New York from Kingston. He was carrying two packages of the drug, which was valued at $19,000, in the groin area of his underwear.
JAMAICAN DELEGATION TO CANADA LED BY PHILLIPS—05/06/15
Dr. Peter Phillips, Jamaica’s Minister of Finance and Planning, is leading a delegation of Jamaicans to Canada to discuss ways to make even stronger trade ties with that country. Talks will be held with Canadian authorities at the ministerial and parliamentary levels of government. They will focus on ways to help Jamaica to address debt servicing and external financial challenges. Phillips will also hold talks with representatives of the Canadian Council of the Americas (CCA) and private financial institutions.
JAMAICAN/CANADIAN INDIE FILM TO BE SCREENED MAY 8 IN FLORIDA—05/07/15
The independent film “Destiny” is scheduled for a screening at the Miramar Cultural Center on May 8, 2015, in sunrise Florida. The film, which is a joint Jamaican and Canadian production, features a positive depiction of Jamaica and its Jamaican characters. It has received excellent reviews wherever it has been shown to date. It tells the story of a woman as she attempts to find herself after the death of her parents and a bad breakup with her boyfriend.
CAST OF BOB MARLEY MUSICAL GIVES FREE CONCERT IN BALTIMORE—05/08/15
The whole case of the Bob Marley musical, which is set to open in Baltimore, Maryland, gave a free concert to the people of Baltimore at the Penn and North intersection that had been the focus of demonstrations protesting the killing of Freddie Gray by police earlier in the month. The cast encouraged residents to join them in the “healing gift” of songs performed by legendary reggae icon and freedom fighter Bob Marley.
JAMAICAN NAMED NEW DIRECTOR OF CULTURE IN CONNECTICUT—05/08/15
Kristina Newman-Scott, who was born and raised in Kingston, has been named to the post of Director of Culture in Connecticut. She worked as an art consultant in Kingston for eight years before moving to the United States. She was also a television and radio personality and visual artist in Jamaica. In 2014, Newman-Scott was on the “Forty Under 40” list of the Hartford Business Journal.
