Immigration: The Application Process for DEFERRED ACTION is Now Open to The Public On August 15, 2012 Immigration opened the application process for Deferred Action for children and certain individuals. This means that Immigration is now accepting applications for this new immigration benefit. You may request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals if...

How do I sell Jamaican land from overseas? I spoke to you about 30 minutes ago and gave you my email address and phone number.  I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty to email you first as, I am seeking your guidance as how would I go about selling land in Jamaica when both parties whose names are on the title live overseas.

Book Review: The Preacher and The Prostitute Maribel struggled to forget her past, when she dabbled in prostitution, made porn videos and was a nude poster girl. She became a Christian and made a decision to use her singing talent to glorify God. However, she quickly realized that a young, single, attractive, talented girl was never going to remain unnoticed at church.

A “SimStar” is Born: An Interview with a Aspiring Tennis Star Simone Vranov-Brown This week we interview a vibrant young lady who makes her mark on the tennis court. Born to a former Jamaican Olympian and a mother from Denmark, Simone Vranov-Brown is an aspiring tennis star whose determination and discipline are bound to make her a household name. Simone is ranked 219 in the US and 43 in Florida and is striving to earn her world ranking by the end of this year. Her overall goal is to be the next Grand Slam champion!

Book Review: Toy Soldiers Stephen Thompson's brave story centres on the plight of Gabriel Powers, a man who finds himself in a hostel for addicts after the most frightening flight from Hackney and the world of crime he grew up in. For Gabriel to come to terms with his addiction, he must first confront his demons, and although his hostel worker and lover Marcia is there to help him, the journey to back to the wastelands of West London is harrowingly and brilliantly recreated.

Movie Review : Heart of Summer Well-read moviegoers will appreciate the references to classic Shakespearean characters Romeo and Juliet and the fair maiden Ophelia as they take in the warm and fuzzy, yet heart wrenching story of Omari and Naomi in the recently released film Heart of Summer. Indeed, the story of forbidden love is a universal one. However, Jamaican-born Director Adrian Allen puts a new twist on it, incorporating modern urban life, Caribbean sensibilities, and religious issues that build to a compelling crescendo.

Jamaica's home-based track and field programmes working The success of Jamaica's track and field programme over the last two Olympic Games can almost be credited to the decision of MVP Track Club and in recent times Racers Track Club's decision to keep its athletes here in Jamaica for training.

How do I get a title for property, can you recommend a lawyer please? Hi, I've been following your articles. I need to obtain my title for a property in Jamaica, who or how can I get that done. can you recommend a lawyer to me. Please?

A Conversation with Jamaican Vivienne Chance the executive producer of the film the "Heart of the Summer" This week we interview Vivienne Chance the executive producer of the film the "Heart of the Summer". The movie is set to be released for screening on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 8pm at the South Florida Film Festival. Vivienne has been working in the film industry since 2003 along with Director and Cinematographer Adrian Allen. Together they own Steadyimage Film and Video Productions. Some of her projects include: Writing and producing the animated cartoon series, Ananse The Spider, being a part of the production team and the official voice of the annual Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, Producing the live stream and live social media experience at the annual Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, Producing HBO specials for The Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival 2011 and 2012, various music video productions, including Billy Ocean's newest "The Question is" to mention just a few. The Heart of the Summer was made with Jamaican actors and a Jamaican production team in and around South Florida. Here is our conversation with Vivienne.

Did the executor, caretaker, lawyer steal my aunt's Jamaican property through fraud? I would love to know what is going on with my aunt's property in Jamaica, and if possible get my name on it. My aunt died shortly after she bought property and built up a house. She and her husband had no children, so they adopted me and raised me. My aunt's husband with a lawyer, went to probate court and replaced her name with his name only on the title after she died.

The Bolt Effect © We are able to embrace these moments in time with honor and gentle dignity, and respect for ALL, including those who might not have been as kind to us in the past. Let us lead by our finest examples of graciousness, dignity, compassion, and love.

A Conversation with A Possible 2016 Olypmian, Jamaican Diver Yona Knight-Wisdom As we are learning from the 2012 Olympics, Jamaica is more than Track and Field. This week we have a conversation with diver Yona Knight-Wisdom, a young Jamaican diver who hopes to represent Jamaica in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Usain Bolt Wins Consecutive Gold in Olympics 200M Jamaica's Usain Bolt ran 19.32 to win the Olympic 200m title. He became the 1st person in the history of the Olympics  to win consecutive gold in 100M and 200M. His training partner Yohan Blake was second in 19.44 and fellow teammate Warren Weir was third in 19.84.

Race and Class Interaction in Jamaica - And its Impact on the World In all my years in Jamaica, I never once was asked to identify my “race.”  So I find it discomfiting to respond to the questions I frequently get here in America - when I have to fill out some government document, for example.  It seems absurd to describe myself as Caucasian or African-American or Hispanic or Pacific Islander… or whatever.  All I know about being Caucasian is that there are some mountains in Russia by that name. I have never laid eyes on the vast continent of Africa, don’t speak Spanish and couldn’t find the Pacific Islands on a map of the world.

Jamaica's National Heroes: Their Legacy 50 Years Later Jamaica is a country in the Caribbean that is well noted for its beautiful surroundings, warmth and magnificent cuisine. However, Jamaica is much more than a sparkling gem within the Caribbean community. The island has been blessed to have been home to notable Jamaicans who fought long and courageously to bring awareness to conditions that still plague our world today. Citizens such as The Right Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante, The Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, The Right Excellent Samuel Sharpe, The Right Excellent Nanny Sharpe of The Maroons, The Right Excellent George William Gordon, The Right Excellent Paul Bogle and The Right Excellent Norman Washington Manley. These individuals have been memorialized in Jamaica's History as National Heroes, not because they created one, death defying act of heroism, but because they made it their life's work to promote Heroism each and every day of their lives.

Updates & Images of Usain Bolt's Historic 100m Olympic Win See Images of Usain Bolt Historic 100m Olympic Win. Keep updated on the Team Jamaican at the Olympic games in London. See the schedule for each day and results for each event. Join the online discussions about the Olympics.

Can my grandmom get Jamaica title as only surviving child without the other grandchildren interfering? My grandmother wants to get a title for a property left to her and her sisters by her dad. She alone has been paying the taxes and now the children of her other siblings (who are all deceased) wish to claim what their mothers were to get. Can she get the title without any problems?

Double Standard for Jamaican Male & Female Athletes & Celebs: Sanya Richard-Ross One of the realities of being Jamaican is that many of us have had to leave our beloved homeland in search of educational opportunities or employment. For some the decision was made by parents and others have made their own decisions. Reality is we all have to do what we can to survive. A soh it goh. I've noticed something really interesting. No one criticizes Donovon Bailey, Ben Johnson, Lynford Christie, and other male athletes for competing under the flags of other countries. No one dissed Jimmy Cliff or even Bob Marley when they living abroad. Shabba Ranks received a heros welcome when he returned to Jamaica after an extended absence. When it comes to female celebrities and athletes, it's a different matter. Merlene Ottey received a TON of criticism for competing for Slovenia. The latest casualty is Sanya Richard-Ross.

Review: Wayne Wonder's New York Birthday Bash Wayne Wonder's Birthday Bash and Caught up Video Release at Crimson Nightclub on  July 24, 2012. Wayne Wonder, flew into New York on Tuesday July 24 to celebrate his July 26th birthday at Club Crimson in downtown Manhattan.  Hosted by Mr. Cee of Hot 97, and sponsored by countless  supporters in the entertainment industry, the club was definitely thumping with hard reggae dancehall beats and Wayne Wonder songs spinning on the decks of the popular club and radio DJ.

Review: Patriotism Aglow On Emancipation Eve Another wonderful evening in ‘E-Park’, as it is fondly known, with the remarkable NDTC Dancers and Singers doing their mento thing, eyes fastened on them for as long as the performances lasted and no one bored or looking to lose their seats for any reason. E-Park was jam packed with thousands of folkscarrying balloons and flags or wearing some combination of black, green and gold; they came early eitherto secure a seat or to find a place that would be a perfect vantage point from which they could capture the view.

Sweet, Sweet Jamaica 50th Independence Celebration Independence is to black, green and gold as Jamaicans living abroad are to holding on dearly to their culture. If no other group of people is known all over the world for their global influence on music, food, fashion, and sports, it is Jamaica and the Jamaican Diaspora. As I reflect upon Jamaica’s Independence celebration in 1962, I am reminded of the high-spiritedness that accompanied it. Streets were filled with police and soldiers, marching bands and hoards of people on the sidewalk waving them along with their free black green and gold flags on a day that did not allow for rain, only for the hot, tropical sunshine.

Online Innovation Festival Day 1 - Videos and biographies of three innovative Jamaican organizations Please join the Institute of Caribbean Studies and Jamaicans.com in celebrating Jamaica's 50th Anniversary by giving recognition to the struggles and achievements of Jamaica's visionaries. The Online Innovation Festival will run from August 6th to August 10th on the ImagineJamaica50 blog. Each day, videos and biographies of three innovative organizations will be posted. Representatives can be seen discussing their current projects and past achievements in their respective fields.

Olympic Results & Updates for Team Jamaican. Keep updated on the Team Jamaican at the Olympic games in London. See the schedule for each day and results for each event. Join the online discussions about the Olympics as everyone debates will Bolt beat the Beast. The schedule answers the question "When does Bolt run".

A Jamaican Day in 2062: Day 3 - The third article in our Online Innovation Festival countdown to Jamaica 50 Day 3 of Emancipendence!  Three  Days to go before the Big 100! And the Three Day Jamaica IronMan kicks off.  The contestants have to dive Port Royal Sunken City; swim Kingston Harbor; climb Blue Mountain Peak; Bike to Montego Bay; then run the South Coast back to Kingston – without using any technology invented since 2012 — No power bikes! No jet packs! No MegaPower Energy Boosters!

A Jamaican Day in 2062: Day 2 - The second article in our Online Innovation Festival countdown to Jamaica 50 The Second Day of Emancipendence!  It is amazing that so many Jamaicans have come home.  Every Cruise Ship Pier is full.  There are two superships with 50,000 each from UK  and Canada.  The Jamericans  take the airtaxi from Miami every morning.  Today there will be fireworks at the National Heroes Park and Parliament Complex which truly needs a sprucing up

A Jamaican Day in 2062 - The first article in our Online Innovation Festival countdown to Jamaica 50 Today is Emancipation Day in this our Jamaica Centenary Jubilee.  Jamaica 100 Celebrations has both Jamaica the Rock, and Jamaica Second Life in a frenzy.   Over 10 million people are slated to be participating in a massive homecoming events online for Jamaicans around the world, as well as the 500 on the Moon and Mars Mining Colonies.   

Men's and Women's 2012 Summer Olympic 100 Meters Sprints Preview & Predictions The 2012 Summer Olympics have finally arrived! If you’re a Track & Field fanatic, you’ve likely spent the last week or so closely following the the Jamaican & U.S. Olympic trials and the European Championships. Whether you’re a sprinter or simply a fan, this is one of those great times to sit back and appreciate the athletic genius and power of these world class athletes. The anticipation and excitement is similar to what an football (soccer) nut experiences when awaiting the World Cup Finals.

How do I check if they did business with my Jamaican title? Good afternoon!--how may I go about knowing if any person(s) used my title for any business matter or tried changing my title in Jamaica?

Event Review - Readings In The Park, Kingston Jamaica On July 20, 2012 as the hot Friday afternoon turned to cool evening and the rush of day transformed into an audience quietly being seated in front of the lilac glow of a huge, softly-lit crescent of a covering over the stage at Emancipation Park in New Kingston, decked with black, gold and green, boldly wrapping the huge trunks of massive and erect palm trees and gently hugging those of the smaller ones, Kwame Dawes again took to stage and there, warmed the anxiously awaiting crowd to a cool and magical evening of the birth of what would prove to be incomparable, literary satisfaction.

Immigration: Two-Year Conditional Green Card The Two-Year Conditional Green Card is an interesting immigration status. Usually individuals who receive their two-year green card are excited about their new status but they usually are not aware of the requirements of filing their I-751 application to safeguard their status. In this month's article we will answer some of the most common questions that we receive concerning this immigration status.

Blake’s Road To London Via Adidas Grand Prix Although I booked a ticket for London at the end of April, it was not until the Adidas Grand Prix held at Icahn Stadium, Randall’s Island, June 9, 2012, that my “official” road to London began.  Watching Olympics 2012 in the US was a definite and resounding, “NO WAY!”  A refrain I’ve been muttering to myself for the past four years.  I hoped for months that it would be London, maybe Jamaica and possibly Canada.

Book Review: JAMAICA WRITES 50 - Great Reads for Jamaica's 50th This is a book of fifty reviews of Jamaican texts from the past seven years, It covers poetry and fiction as well as non-fiction and the reviews appeared in the local news-papers, The Sunday Gleaner and The Sunday Observer. The reviews are succinct and informative: they serve well as pieces of literary criticism with a view to establishing a literature that is Jamaican.

A Conversation with Jamaican Rapper Five Steez This week we interview Jamaican Rapper  Five Steez. He is a true MC that has surprisingly risen through an obscure Hip Hop scene in Jamaica, the land of Reggae, to capture ears and minds all over the world through years of mixtape releases, performances and televised music videos. With the city of Kingston as his backdrop, he expresses a reality that exemplifies Hip Hop’s role as the ‘voice of the voiceless’. Here is our conversation with Five Steez.

I thought my dead dad's land automatically passes to me, is my cousin conning me? My father sadly passed away a year ago. He left a house but he did not make a will. My cousin told me that his nieces dealt with everything and when I have tried to call they do not answer and it seems they will not disclose anything. My cousin has supplied me with the address of the property. It all seems a bit strange to me the way my relatives are behaving like they are hiding something. I was under the impression the property would automatically be passed down to siblings?

Conversation with Annette Robinson, Project manager of the UK exhibition "Jamaica 's 50th & the Olympics" This week we interviewed Annette Robinson, Project manager of the Kingsway Project, a voluntary organisation based in Birmingham. Annette spearheaded the recently opened exhibition to celebrate Jamaica's 50th and the Olympics. It is the largest UK exhibition dedicated to celebrating Jamaica’s 50th.  It gives an introduction to the history and heritage of Jamaica, The exhibition also features vibrant displays about Jamaica’s history, its National Symbols and Heroes and iconic Jamaican people from the past and present. Here is our conversation with Annette.

I need information on land surveying in Jamaica, and how it relates to title registration I got information that a diagram is needed to register title for land in Jamaica. It was explained that land surveying needs to be carried out. Can you explain what land surveying in Jamaica is about? How do I find someone who can do it?

Book Review: Disposable People Ten year old Kenneth Lovelace often went to bed without dinner. Instead of feeling hunger, however, what he mostly felt was fear and shame, knowing that his family’s poverty was the reason he had no food. Kenneth also recalls his bitterness whenever his parents locked him out of their tiny, one-room house to act on their 'urge'.

Help, I need to stop them from selling my Jamaica property! Lawyers in this country of Jamaica are unscrupulous. How do I go about restraining a lawyer, and a public company, from acting according to what they promised, to sell my house for example?

A Conversation with Jevaughn Porter, Mr. Teen Jamaica 2012 This week we interview Jevaughn Porter Mr. Teen Jamaica 2012. He is one of the 2 delegates that will represent Jamaica in the Mr. Teen United Nations 2012 held in Florida. Here is our conversation with Jevaughn.

Man is born free but is everywhere in chains In this day and age, the mind is a terrible thing to waste. The mind encompasses the way in which all things are executed.  Most don’t realize the difference between common sense and being book smart. If you think about it an individual can be educated and still make incompetent decisions. Without an open mind one is restricted to what you read in books, or what one has been told. It all comes down to how well an individual can critically think.