The month of July has witnessed the re-opening of Jamaica’s Missions in the United States, and the return to some semblance of normalcy, as Jamaica’s air and seaports begin tofully reopen from the COVID-19 lockdown.

MIAMI — After consulting with the CEOs of South Florida hospitals and Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Mary Mayhew this afternoon, I have decided to issue an emergency order requiring masks in all public spaces inside and outdoors throughout Miami-Dade County.

It is with utmost delight that I congratulate you, Justice Jewel Scott, on your election this past June 9 as Superior Court Judge for the Clayton County Circuit in the Atlanta Metro area. It marked a historic moment making you the first Jamaican person so elected in the great state of Georgia.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a law that allowed debt collectors to make robocalls to cell phones. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) offered the following statement:

MIAMI, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez signed Amendment 1 to Emergency Order 25-20 requiring hotels, motels and commercial lodging in Miami-Dade County to restrict pool access and alcohol sales. This order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2020 and extends through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2020.

Miami, Fl. —Today, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dennis C. Moss announced his candidacy for Miami-Dade School Board District 9. The seat will be vacated by Dr. Lawrence Feldman, the current school board member representing the district, who announced last July that he would not run for reelection.

MIAMI-DADE – Miami-Dade County Commission Chairwoman Audrey M. Edmonson teamed up once again with Feeding South Florida to feed over 750 families at a drive-through free food distribution on June 27 at the Joseph Caleb Center.

As an expression of appreciation and gratitude for their long-standing service in the community, the Carrie Meek Foundation (CMF) provided a $500 contribution to the Progressive Firefighters Association Charities, Inc., recently.

A Virginia judge has ordered a 10-day halt to Governor Ralph Northam’s plan to remove a statue of Robert E. Lee statue on Richmond’s historic Monument Avenue.

MIAMI – Miami-Dade County Commission Chairwoman Audrey M. Edmonson on July 2 urged the public to celebrate July 4th safely by avoiding celebratory gunfire while working together to end the plague of gun violence.

Jamaica’s former Consul General to Miami, John P. Atkins passed peacefully last Sunday (June 14) at his home in Miami, after a long period of illness.  He was 78 years of age.

Massachusetts/CMM…The Authentic Caribbean Foundation (ACF) held its virtual launch of “National Caribbean American Heritage Month - Massachusetts”on June 1, 2020 at 6pm in association with The Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS). There was strong representation from the state’s elected officials, led by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (House of Representative Massachusetts’s 7th Congressional District); Mike Vazquez (Representative of Governor Charley Baker, Massachusetts Governor’s Office); Robert F. Sullivan  (Mayor, City of Brockton); Kim Janey (Boston City Council); Julia Mejia (Boston City Council); Michelle Wu (Boston City Council); Quinton Zandorvan (Cambridge City Council); Ken Clifton (Town Council, Randolph); Gerlin Adrien (Everett City Council) and Natacha Clergy, (Town Council, Randolph).