Photo by Derrick A. Scott

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
-- Attorney-at-Law Philmore Scott has called on the Jamaican diaspora to lobby remittance companies to establish a special educational fund for inner city youths.

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Delivering the Keynote address at the South Florida Chapter of the William Knibb Memorial High School Alumni Reunion Dinner and Dance Oct. 20 in Ft. Lauderdale, Mr. Scott said the Jamaican government and the Jamaican diaspora should collaborate to lobby remittance companies to contribute at least 50 cents US from every money transfer to Jamaica.

This money should be placed in a special fund and used for developing the skills and education of inner city youth who are currently underperforming because of lack of resources, Mr. Scott said during the event at the Best Western Sawgrass Hotel in Plantation.

He said remittance companies make millions of dollars from Jamaicans overseas who use their services. These companies "make big bucks" from remittance fees charged when the money is sent back home. The money received is not paid out at the exchange rate, helping the remittance companies make a deeper profit from the many users.

He emphasized that remittances continue to rival tourism as the number one foreign exchange earner and yet there is no clear indication on how this money when received is spent by those who receive it. "It may not be apart of any taxable income," Mr. Scott observed, adding that there is an urgent need for the government, diaspora and the companies to forge a partnership to benefit education in Jamaica.

He further emphasized that this could go a far way in terms of their educational development and even in rehabilitating some of the young men in Jamaica who have gone off track.

He implored the Jamaicans oversees to take on the challenging responsibility to help steer these youths in the right direction because they are the same ones who will become a nuisance when members of the Diaspora return to Jamaica as returning residents.

Mr. Scott, an alumnus, lauded the efforts of the South Florida Chapter in continuing to support the educational development of the school. He pointed out that this spirit of charity and service was the legacy of the emancipator Rev. William Knibb and the school’s founder the Rev. Stephen James.

He encouraged the members of the chapter to continue their contributions and support to the school which is greatly in need. He also indicated to them that regardless of the bad news they sometimes receive about Jamaica, hope is still alive and there are persons who are excelling.

Photo by Derrick A. Scott

Attorney at-Law Philmore Scott at left seems to be reminiscing on the good old days at William Knibb Memorial High School with fellow Alumni and Asst. Vice President of the Bank of America Banking Center 2, Fitzgerald Brown, at right. Mr. Scott who was Guest Speaker at the South Florida Chapter of the William Knibb Memorial High Dinner and Dance at the Best Western Sawgrass Hotel in Plantation (greater Fort Lauderdale), Florida on Saturday, October 20th. At center is Mrs. Debbie Brown.

The South Florida alumni Chapter held the reunion as part of its mission to help raise funds to support the school. Principal Dania Wynter delivered a report that outlined the many challenges that the institution faces.

She said they include the urgent need for financial assistance to make repairs to the school's aging infrastructure and its computer and science labs.

The President of the chapter, Trevor Dale, urged all past students and friends of the association to get involved in the activities of the chapter to help make a difference in the advancements of the school. He said pointed out that over the past four years the chapter has contributed some US$7000 to the school. Of that amount, US$4000 went to the construction of the computer lab and US$2000 to supply computers.

Close to 200 past students and their friends attended the event and danced to the music of Sly Slick and wicked disco. The Reunion weekend kicked off on Friday October 19 and brought together William Knibb Alumni from Canada, various states throughout the US, the United Kingdom and Jamaica. It ended with the annual picnic at CB Smith Park in Pembroke Pines.

Named after Baptist emancipator Rev. William Knibb, the schools was founded some 46 years ago by the Rev. Stephens James former pastor of the Duncans Baptist Church. William Knibb Memorial High was the second high school to be established in the parish. At present the institution has an enrollment of over 1,300 students.

link: >>> REUNION PHOTOS

--by: Derrick A. Scott
October 2007