FT. LAUDERDALE – Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Hon. Portia Simpson Miller received a rousing welcome to the South Florida community Thursday, June 22 when almost 500 Jamaican nationals and friends of Jamaica greeted her at a reception in her honor at the Westin Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood.
The Prime Minister in her welcome address called on the Diaspora to become more involved in the country’s development. She urged them to strongly “unite around the issues affecting Jamaica, so we can move forward as a people,” regardless of partisan politics.
While she lauded the outstanding contributions and achievements of Jamaicans to the development of the USA, some of whom were in the audience, PM Simpson Miller told the gathering that they were to be mindful of their roots.
Miller on a two-day visit in South Florida will be engaged in several activities including a meeting with Florida bankers and investors, as well as a community forum with the Jamaican Diaspora.
PM Portia Simpson-Miller
photo by: Dreamy Riley
The Prime Minister encouraged the audience of professionals, entrepreneurs, public officials, students, and representatives of charitable and service organizations to pool ideas for a shared vision whereby all Jamaicans would work together in realizing that the country’s best opportunity for achieving its maximum potential lies in the active input of all interested nationals, at home and abroad.
As Miller embraced the legacy of past Jamaican leaders, she modestly described herself as a symbol of change, charting her political career and her commitment to ensuring growth and development of the Jamaican economy in her efforts to work with the Diaspora.
Also in attendance was the Chairman of the National Commercial Bank, Mr. Michael Lee Chin who also implored all Jamaicans to be cognizant of the opportunities for investment in their island home.
Michael Lee Chin
photo by: Dreamy Riley
Along with the Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Chin lauded the achievements of Jamaican nationals abroad, at the same time urging them that the country is poised as an excellent emerging market for investment, because of natural resources, growing infrastructure, geographic location and more importantly its people.
Consul General, Ricardo Allicock welcomed the Prime Minister on her first official visit to the South Florida community since assuming office in March, earlier this year.
Consul General Allicock presenting to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller
photo by: Dreamy Riley
Attending the welcome reception was Jamaica’s Ambassador to the USA, Professor Dr. Gordon Shirley and Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, Hon. Philip Paulwell, members of the CARICOM Diplomatic Corp in Florida, former Ambassador to Jamaica and Florida Secretary of State, Ambassador Sue Cobb as well as former Ambassador Michael Sotirhos and Mrs. Sotirhos, along with other city and state officials in Florida.
(L to R: Consul General Allicock, Michael Lee Chin, PM Portia Simpson-Miller,
Hon. Philip Paulwell
photo by: Dreamy Riley
A presentation was made to Dahlia Walker-Huntington by Consul General Allicock for her contribution to galvanizing the Jamaican Diaspora in the Southern USA while she served as the first appointed Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board member since the historic National Diaspora Conference in Kingston in June 2004.
Marlon Hill, was introduced as the newly elected Advisory Board member for that same region at the last Conference held recently on June 15 and 16, where some 500 delegates from the Diaspora convened at the Conference Center in Kingston.
