Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams has announced that the City of New York will partner with Jamaica to help stop the flow of guns from going into the island. Mayor Adams made this announcement while addressing a group of Jamaicans in Queens, New York at the launching of the Jamaica-60 Independence Anniversary, at the Hyatt Regency JFK Resort World Casino, last Sunday.
In speaking to more than 300 Jamaicans in attendance including the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, Mayor Adams said, “I am concern about the flow of guns and ammunition as well as drugs from New York City to Jamaica and the impact that it is having on the country as it relates to loss of life.” Adams stated that the City of New York is home to over one million Jamaicans, and he will partner with the government of Jamaica to change the culture of this flow of guns and drugs that is destroying the public safety of both the United States and Jamaica. In continuing Adams said, that he was excited about the plan of this partnership as the “heart and soul of the Jamaican Diaspora in the United States, is New York City.” Mayor Adams said the bond that exist between New York City and Jamaica will be strengthened in the areas of education, trade, and business also. Adams further commented on the, “unbelievable contribution of the Jamaican Diaspora to the City, which New York cannot ignore or do without.”
Prime Minister Andrew Holness in launching off Jamaica-60 Independence Anniversary said the government hopes to bring all Jamaicans together so that they can looked at what has been achieved and the short-comings since the 60 years of independence. “It is right that as we celebrate 60 years, we take stock of ourselves as to how we have administered our affairs and to access our stewardship,” Holness said.
United States Senate Majority Leader, Senator Charles Schumer of New York, Jamaican’s Minister of Sports and Culture, Olivia Grange and Jamaica’s Consul General to New York, Alsion Roach Wilson also addressed the event.
