Jamaican Entrepreneurs in South Florida to be Honoured

Fifteen Jamaican entrepreneurs, community leaders and public officials in South Florida will be honoured at the first annual Recognition and Installation luncheon of the JA-USA Chamber of Commerce, to be held on Friday, March 24 at the Sheraton Hotel in Davie.
The recipients will be recognized for their positive contribution to the Jamaican Diaspora and the USA marketplace, according to President of the Chamber, Marie Gill, who is also President of M. Gill & Associates, a Miami-Dade consulting firm.
In keeping with the theme of the event: ‘Unleashing our Entrepreneurial Spirit’, the programme will highlight current developments in Jamaica with directions on a variety of investment opportunities.
Special guest speaker will be Aubyn Hill, President of the National Investment Bank of Jamaica (NIBJ).The JA-USA Chamber of Commerce was started in March 2003 and is the brainchild of Jamaica’s Consul General to the Southeast USA, Ricardo Allicock.
Since its inception, Miss Gill noted that the Chamber members have been deliberate in their efforts to promote trade within the Jamaican Diaspora, and to dramatically improve international trade activities.
Miss Gill reiterated that the JA-USA Chamber, as part of its mission, has embarked on a drive to not only improve trade between Jamaica and the USA, but to encourage investment in Jamaica as well. The Chamber is also focused on helping immigrants within the Diaspora to assimilate in the United States, she added.Members have also participated in several trade shows, locally and in Jamaica.
Through their Scholarship Fund, the Chamber has awarded two scholarships – one to a doctoral student pursuing business management studies in London, the other to a student of the Swift Purcell Boys’ Home, Highgate, St. Mary, completing studies in agricultural science at Brown’s Town Community College in St. Ann.
The Chamber was also instrumental in assisting with renovation to the Swift Purcell Boys’ Home after damage to the property during Hurricane Ivan in 2004.Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the Chamber’s Small Business Disaster and Student Scholarship Funds.