IN BUT NOT OUT. Superintendent Raymond J. Cunningham (left), Staff Advisor Charles Davis (second left) and inmate Ricardo Richards, Vice President of the Caribbean African Unity (CAU) organization, joined forces to give Consul General of Jamaica in New York, Mrs. Geneive Brown Metzger (second right), a welcome and a surprise on her first visit to the Woodbourne Correctional Facility, a mid-level security correctional facility in Upstate New York, on Friday, January 30, 2009. The CAU presented a check for just over $1,100.00 to the CG for hurricane relief in Jamaica. The Consular delegation also included Deputy Consul General, Mrs. Tracey Blackwood and Founder/President of FURI (Family Unification & Resettlement Initiative), Carmeta Albarus-Lindo. – Source JIS/NY. *

A BETTER YOU. Hon. N. Nick Perry (right), Nine term member of the New York State Assembly presented Olympian Veronica Campbell-Brown (second right) with a state Proclamation recognizing her outstanding achievements in Track & Field Athletics at a reception at the Jamaican Consulate, Manhattan on Wednesday, January 28. Mrs. Campbell- Brown was in town for the NYC launch of her first book of poems, “A Better You,� providing an up close account of her climb to the summit of the sports. Consul General of Jamaica, Mrs. Geneive Brown Metzger (left) who hosted the reception in collaboration with Nembo Imports Ltd, and On Track Management, Inc., used the occasion to present the ‘outstanding sports ambassador for Jamaica’ with a certificate of merit & appreciation in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the development of track & field athletics and for her achievement at the highest level of the sports since 2000. Husband and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Omar Brown, is at second left. - Photo by Sharon Bennett, Source JIS. *

Let Them Eat Cake and Celebrate! Jamaica Tourist Board representative Kenton Senior (pictured second from right) gets a helping hand at the New York Times Travel Show last weekend celebrating with consumers and travel agents during Bob Marley’s birthday with a specially-made cake. Also at the celebration was Cheryl Kasprzycki, senior sales manager for Solis The Palmyra Resort & Spa (pictured first from right) opening in Montego Bay in June. *

Bob Marley’s Birthday, 2009, Kicks Off New York Times Travel Show - Hundreds of consumers and agents lined up to get a slice of cake and a bit of Jamaican sunshine at Jamaica Tourist Board’s booth at the New York Times Travel Show last weekend. On hand was Jamaica Tourist Board representative Christopher Dobson who helped celebrate Bob Marley’s birthday on Friday, February 6. *

CAR OR CASH. Mrs. Tracey Blackwood (right), Deputy Consul General of Jamaica in New York, seems overjoyed at the opportunity to pull the winning ticket from the drum at last Saturday’s, 13th Annual Mega Draw & Raffle organized by the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (UJAA) and held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, Queens, NY. Mrs. Blackwood, a Wolmers’ alum, pulled the winning ticket – R 1539 - which was sold by a member of the Immaculate Conception High School Alumni Association. The odds for the winning ticket was approximately 1 in 36,000. The winner can take the brand new Maxima motorcar or a cash payout of $21K. MC Irwine Clare (left), again had the attention of the capacity audience. - Photo by Sharon Bennett. *

SAME PLACE, DIFFERENT FACES. Senator, Dr. Ronald Robinson (right), Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Mrs. Geneive Brown Metzger (second right), Consul General of Jamaica in New York, used the occasion of the town hall meeting at the North Bronx SDA Church, Bronx, NY, on Saturday night, to update Jamaicans of the state of affairs in Jamaica. During the lively exchange, Senator Robinson told the audience that the government will be putting much emphasis on four key sectors with significant budgetary allocations this year, namely; Education, Healthcare, National Security and Agriculture. Dr. Robinson will meet with Jamaican nationals in Connecticut on Thursday before wrapping up his visit at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Friday and Saturday. - JIS Photo by Sharon Bennett *

JAMAICAN OLYMPIAN HONOURED. Five time Olympian and sprint champion Raymond Stewart (left), accepts a citation for outstanding contribution to sports development from NYC Councilman Leroy Comrie – Queens, (second left), at Wednesday’s press reception marking Team Jamaica Bickle’s 15th anniversary of support for the athletes participating in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sabrina HoSang (center), COO of Royal Caribbean Foods; Cecile Christie (second right), Vice Consul/Consulate General of Jamaica and Raphael Dominquez (right), US Census Bureau Representative were on hand at the offices of Ruder Finn, NYC for the presentation. Partly hidden at right is Irwin Clare, Sr., Founder/Chair, Team Jamaica Bickle. The 2009 Penn Relays takes place at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, April 23-25. - JIS Photo by Roland Hyde. *

FAMILY REUNIFICATION AND RESETTLEMENT INITIATIVE. Consul General, Mrs. Geneive Brown Metzger (left) and Deputy Consul General, Mrs. Tracey Blackwood (right), used the occasion of Wednesday’s community forum at the Consulate in Manhattan to underscore the Government’s commitment to providing for the welfare of those nationals (deportees) who fall afoul of the laws of the USA being spearheaded by FURI-New York and Jamaica. The advocacy group was started by Jamaican Carmeta Albarus-Lindo. - JIS Photo by Sharon Bennett *

RAISING THE NEXT BARACK OBAMA. Jamaican author Taniesha Burke (seated) signs a copy of her first book, ‘Raising the next Barack Obama,’ for New Yorker, Maxine Greaves of GMAX Event Planners at last Thursday’s book launch at the offices of Ruder Finn, Manhattan. The book, an 86 page compilation, offers guidelines on how to develop core principles for success in your child and will be useful particularly for young mothers and professionals dealing with children. - JIS Photo by Sharon Bennett. *