N E W S   Last updated: Monday, November 30th, 2009 12:01pm EST

Jamaican Social Club in Toledo Pledges Continued Support

Washington DC (JIS): Friday, November 13, 2009

Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Anthony Johnson, accepts the Distinguished Guest Recognition Award from Willi Ann Moore, President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Toledo Chapter, at the 33rd Anniversary Dinner and Dance of the Jamaican Social Club of Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday (November 7).

The Jamaican Social Club of Toledo, Ohio, USA, has pledged to continue supporting sectors in Jamaica that are in need of critical assistance.

This was disclosed by Mr. Earl Mitchell, President of JSCTO, in an overview of the organisation at its 33rd anniversary dinner and dance, at its headquarters on Saturday (November 7).

JSCTO has donated just over US$500,000 in medical supplies and equipment, school supplies and athletics gear to a number of organisations in Jamaica over the past 33 years.

Mr. Mitchell said that the association was committed to assisting in the areas of health, education and sports in Jamaica as these were the areas in critical need of support. He pointed out that his organisation will be looking at ways to forge stronger partnerships with the ministries of Health, Education, Youth, Sports and Culture in Jamaica.

Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Anthony Johnson, accepts a proclamation from the City of Toledo, from the Recording Secretary of the Jamaican Social Club of Toledo Ohio, Edith Johnson, at the Club's 33rd Anniversary dinner and dance on Saturday(November 7). At right is President of Club, Earl Mitchell.

He also announced that the Club will be taking more than 100 visitors from Toledo to visit Jamaica in March 2010, as part of its practical support for local tourism.

In delivering the keynote address, Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Anthony Johnson, urged Jamaicans living in the United States of America to support efforts at home to increase food exports to the United States.

Noting that Jamaica currently exports about US$100 million of food products to the US annually, he suggested that this figure could rise to around US$2 billion through a five per cent increase in market saturation.

"The challenges we face are not insurmountable. Solutions can be found in the opportunities that exist in the largely unfilled demand for Jamaican food products that exists in North America. The appetite for Jamaican foods has now crossed over into the Hispanic, African American and West African markets," he explained.

Ambassador Johnson also implored Jamaicans to get involved in outsourcing industry, highlighting the country's natural geographic and cultural advantages. He also encouraged members of the organization to continue to uphold the Jamaican tradition of being excellent workers.

Both the city of Toledo and the Toledo chapter of the National Association for the Advancement for Colored People (NAACP) paid tribute to Ambassador Johnson. The City honoured him with a proclamation, while the NAACP presented him with a Distinguished Guest Award.