HOLLYWOOD – Jamaican national and Florida State Representative, Hazelle Rogers was honored (Sunday, Feb. 27) with the Broward Black Elected Officials (BBEO) Political Award adding one more accolade to her many achievements since beginning her 20-year political career in South Florida.
State Representative Rogers was one of two political honorees awarded for their work in diverse communities across the tri-county areas of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach in South Florida, at the sixth annual gala of the Broward Black Elected Officials in Hollywood at the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood. Under the theme, “Sustaining the Dream”, the event formed part of Black History Month activities. Other honorees included Florida State Representative Joseph Gibbons for political development; Margaret Haynie Birch, educator and Beatrice Louissaint, community development leader, both for community service; McKenley Romeo and Roderick Harvey, corporate business leaders for corporate leadership; and, Calvin Hughes, television newscaster and Guy Torry, comedian both given special awards for community service.
Proceeds from the event continue to recognize the academic achievements and community involvement of minority high school seniors across the State, and whom all have maintained high moral standards. The BBEO along with corporate support also provides programmes focusing on education and community outreach and mentoring opportunities for students interested in political careers.
Making the presentation, Jamaica’s Consul General Sandra Grant Griffiths congratulated State Representative Rogers as a “strong and true daughter of Jamaican soil” adding that as a US citizen and loyal official “she helps her constituents and promotes civil progress daily through her committed work to sustain the dream.”
Rogers began her service in 1996 as an elected Commissioner to the City Commission of Lauderdale Lakes where she served consecutively for three terms. Also known as the ‘matriarch of Caribbean politics in South Florida’, she was the first person from the English speaking Caribbean to be elected to political office in the tri-county South Florida community.
Since 2009, she was elected to the Florida House of Representatives (District 94) where she currently serves as a member of several committees encompassing finance and tax, economic development and tourism, transportation and appropriations. She recently served on the committee for Florida statewide Census programme development.
Among her numerous community service awards, Rogers was also the first Caribbean to be inducted into the Broward County Women’s Hall of Fame in March 2001. She also served as a distinguished president of the Broward League of Cities, a group of local elected officials representing the 31 cities in Broward County.
Her work with the Diaspora lends support as a founding member of the Greater Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce (GCACC) in South Florida, the 16 year old multi-cultural festival – UNIFEST; as well as the Caribbean American Democratic Club.
Graciously accepting her award from the fraternity of South Florida political colleagues, Rogers feels committed in her mission is to bring together all segments of the diverse population of Broward County at the same time ensuring that immigrants are not left behind or left out.
Rogers joins a rank of other Jamaican nationals who have been honored by the BBEO including world aviator, Barrington Irving, Jr., publisher Peter Webley, business leaders, Chester Bishop and Anthony D’Oyley, respectively.
