Jamaicans among honorees of City of Miami Garden’s Caribbean-American Heritage Month celebration
MIAMI GARDENS – Four Jamaican nationals were among the seven community stalwarts and citizens of Caribbean descent, honored by the City of Miami Gardens at its monthly City Council meeting held Wednesday (June 10) in the City Chamber.
At a Reception to observe June as Caribbean American Heritage Month, Mayor Shirley Gibson said that the City was proud to acknowledge the contributions of the Caribbean nationals in the development of that City.
Presentation of plaques were awarded to the Jamaican honorees namely the Reverend Horace Ward of the Holy Family Episcopal Church; Ms. Rosie Fletcher-Lawarence of Discount Food Market; Mr. Leslie Chin, entrepreneur of the oldest Jamaican restaurant and groceries in Miami Gardens; and Ms. Marjorie Speicher, President of Miami Gardens Crime Watch, a volunteer crime prevention community group.
Other awardees included Mr. Wendell James, Panamian of the original City of Miami Gardens Charter signatory; Miss Sara Jean Phillipe, Haitian born, honor student at Miami Norland Senior High School and member of the Miami Gardens Youth Council. An award was presented posthumously to Mr. Desmond Worrell, Trinidadian and founder of the annual Miami Caribbean Carnival which started some 25 years ago in Miami Gardens.
Simultaneously, the Mayor also acknowledged the Jamaican Diaspora with the presentation of a Proclamation observing ‘Jamaican Diaspora Day’ to be celebrated on Tuesday, June 16.
Making the presentation to the Jamaican Diaspora Advisory board representative for the Southern USA, Marlon Hill, Mayor Gibson said that the “celebration of one’s heritage is vital to understanding your voice and place in your community.”
She said the growth of the community was attributed to the extraordinary contributions of the migrant community through a variety of small businesses, professional and community associations, and church congregations of Caribbean heritage. “We welcome and embrace this cultural diversity and infusion into our emerging City,” she told the packed Chamber of Caribbean families and friends.
On arrival in the United States, many Caribbean immigrants first settled in Carol City, a suburb of Miami Gardens. The City is also home to the largest African-American municipality in Florida State, a large percentage of whom are Caribbean nationals.
In his remarks, Mr. Hill said that it was fitting that we pay homage to the City of Miami Gardens as “that City was the among the first to welcome or families and friends into the United States.”
He continued that as Caribbean people, our history and culture are common threads that bind us together.
As Caribbean people celebrated their heritage throughout the June month, Mr. Hill called on the Diaspora to continue on a meaningful path of community building.
Jamaica’s Consul General Sandra Grant Griffiths were among the invited guests and she also commended the awardees reminding them of their achievements as community leaders and their efforts in helping to shape our wider community.
Other invitees included representatives of Caribbean-based community organizations as well as public elected officials of Caribbean descent.
