Letter To The Editor Jamaica Observer,  Jamaica

The Board of Directors of the Jamaican Women of Florida responds to an article in your On-Line Edition of the Jamaica Observer, May 22, 2015 “ J’can busted in US for ‘defrauding’ gov’t, clients”. The lead paragraph of your story read, “Pamella Watson, Treasurer of the Jamaican Women of Florida (JWOF) organisation was on Wednesday arrested on several federal charges”.

Your tagline and characterization of Ms. Watson’s primary role is misleading. Ms. Watson was recently elected to the position of treasurer of JWOF in February, 2015 and to date had not assumed the role of treasurer in that she had no access to the organization’s funds or access codes to online payment portals. As such the organization’s funds were not accessible to Ms. Watson.

While that information is necessary to make the general public aware that the funds of the organization were in no way compromised, Ms. Watson’s primary role is that of the principal of her accounting firm Watson & Associates.

Ms. Watson was also actively involved in numerous organizations in South Florida and served in various capacities on several community boards including that of treasurer to many. To lead with and to deem her primary role as that of JWOF Treasurer has served to place JWOF in a damaging light. We are a not-for-profit organization that depends on public support to assist in our charitable endeavors, educational scholarships and mentoring of the next generation of Jamaican women in Florida and Jamaica.

The Board of Directors voted on May 22, 2015 to suspend Ms. Watson as Treasurer and appointed an interim Treasurer. We are privileged to live in a society where a person is innocent until proven guilty, and we will reserve any judgments. The organization will act in accordance with the by-laws when the matter of Ms. Watson’s criminal case is resolved.

Board of Directors
Jamaican Women of Florida