Support of Jamaicans Overseas Vital to Country’s Development – PM

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has repeated her call for support from the Jamaican community overseas, in the thrust to move the country forward.
She emphasized that this support was vital for her vision for the promotion of literacy, early childhood education, rural development and agriculture, and for the attack on crime and violence.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the Grand Independence Ball celebrating Jamaica’s 44th anniversary of nationhood, which was held onAugust 12 at the New York Hotel in midtown Manhattan.
Declaring that it was time to “catch this monster of crime and violence once and for all”, the Prime Minister stressed that, “we do not make guns in Jamaica”.
Mrs. Simpson Miller said she was leader for all Jamaicans, both at home and abroad, and that she was honoured to be the special guest at the Independence Gala on her first official visit to New York City as Prime Minister.
Drawing heavily on the legacy of the country’s founders, the Prime Minister urged members of the audience not to allow the memories of those nation builders to fade away.
Mrs. Simpson Miller was introduced as a “woman of esteem”, by Consul-General to New York, Dr. Basil K. Bryan.
Dr. Bryan later presented the Consul-General’s Independence honours to eight Jamaican-Americans in acknowledgement of their professional achievements and exemplary community service.
Those honoured were: Amir Abdullah Muhammed Abdul Akbar of CAPE, Inc.; Minnel M. Porter of Giddy Hall School Alumni Association; Paul Campbell of Polo Ralph Lauren; Barbara Richards of UJAA, Inc.; Raymond ‘Ray’ Goulbourne of BET; Valrie Wilson of Healthcare International; Patricia Chin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VP Records; and Dr. Saleem Josephs, 2006 graduate of Columbia University, who obtained three degrees.
More that 1,200 Jamaicans and well-wishers attended the ball, with entertainment provided by Byron Lee & The Dragonaires.