Lester Hinds/Gleaner Writer JAMAICA-BORN CARSON ‘Eddie’ Edwards is the new city commissioner in the city of Miramar, Florida, coming out victorious in Tuesday’s special election to fill the vacant seat. Edwards, who was born in Kingston and attended Harbour View Primary and Ardenne High schools, secured 41.6 per cent of the votes cast. His nearest rival received 33 per cent of the votes. Four candidates ran for the seat. Edwards will now serve out the remaining two years of the term before running for a full four-year term in 2026. The seat became vacant when the person who had it was elected county commissioner. A first-time candidate, Edwards told The Gleaner that his win means he will be able to serve the people of south Florida. “It means that I will be able to open doors and provide access to resources to the people of the City, especially business people,” he said. Edwards said his goal is to help keep the city on the path of success while strengthening areas of deficiency. Edwards migrated to the United States in 1979 after working with Air Jamaica and Jamintel. He started his own business and became a radio show host. He is a co-founder of the Jamaican Jerk Fest held in Florida and New York. Edwards said he would continue to put on Jerk Fest. STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY His message to Jamaicans who are green card-holders, and who are eligible, to apply for their citizenship so that they can vote in US elections. “We need to strengthen our community as a voting block so as to influence elections not only at the local and state levels, but also at the federal level,” he told The Gleaner. Edwards said that he was looking to represent all the people of the city of Miramar and not just the Caribbean community. With his election, two of the city commissioners are Jamaica-born while another two are of Jamaican descent. Edwards is a former head boy at Ardenne where he served alongside prominent educator Esther Tyson who was head girl. His campaign received the backing of many prominent Jamaicans in the South Florida area as they rallied to get him elected. Jamaica-born John T. Hodgson, who himself was elected city commissioner of Lauderhill in November and who campaigned for Edwards, welcomed the election of Edwards and described him as a hard worker who is a wellknown community activist. “He is always visible and accessible. He has created employment in the community and has been involved in political campaigns for over 25 years,” Hodgson told The Gleaner. He said he believed Edwards’ election would benefit the people of Miramar as he brings a certain level of expertise, especially in the areas of entertainment and jobs creation. “I look forward to working with him to strengthen the Jamaican and Caribbean communities,” said Hodgson. editorial@gleanerjm.com THE MONTHLY GLEANER | MARCH 20 - APRIL 19, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 2 Will Mr. Damian Baker of a St. Elizabeth, Jamaica address or anyone knowing his whereabouts, kindly contact the Child Protection & Family Services Agency, 10 Hanover Street, Spanish Town, St. Catherine, Jamaica at 876-301-4983. N O T I C E Anyone knowing the WHEREABOUTS of the following person: MR. GEORGE MILLS LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 50 ¼ Lyndhurst Road, Kingston 10, Saint Andrew PLEASE CONTACT: Phillipson Partners Attorneys- at Law 48 Constant Spring Road Kingston 10 Jamaica (876) 920-1001-3 Email: ppy@cwjamaica.com ruth.baker@pplawja.com This is regarding an urgent legal matter concerning an estate. N O T I C E Will Mr. Keith Roberts, whose last known address is 31 Gols Road, Upper Darby, PA, 19082 anyone knowing of his whereabouts kindly contact the Family Court, 55A Duke Street, Kingston, Telephone # (876) 633-7107. NOTICE AS THE immigration policies being implemented by the Donald Trump Administration take hold, travel anxiety has developed among Jamaican green card holders in the United States (US). As a result, the island’s tourism industry is bracing for a possible downturn in arrivals from the north. REPORTS REACHING The Sunday Gleaner are that several green card holders who would normally travel to Jamaica, especially over the summer, are having second thoughts about taking the trip. The Sunday Gleaner reached out to some of these persons to gauge their travel plans. One man, who asked only to be identified as Richard, said he was still deciding whether to travel to Jamaica later this year as he has done in the past. “I am half and half. I am concerned with all the new policies that keep changing day to day and I am not sure that I want to take the chance of going to Jamaica and not being able to rejoin my family in the US,” he said. Richard, who moved to the US in 2016 and got his green card in 2018, told The Sunday Gleaner that his wife and children are US citizens and he would be concerned about not being able to reunite with his family. “If I was alone it would not matter as I have a business in Jamaica and can live comfortably in Jamaica but, being separated from my family is my major concern,” he said. Richard, who was born in Westmoreland and worked for Air Jamaica before moving to the US, told The Sunday Gleaner that he was not interested in becoming a citizen of the US but has now applied as his wife is scared for him. According to Richard, who lives in California, he has no issues with the law, not even a speeding ticket, but he is still concerned about travelling because of the uncertainty created by the changing US immigration policies. 10-YEAR GREEN CARD HOLDER Gary, the holder of a 10-year green card who also did not want his full name used, told The Sunday Gleaner that he too was having second thoughts about travelling to Jamaica later this year. A resident of Atlanta, Georgia, Gary said he has small children in Jamaica and wants to visit with them but is having doubts about travelling because of the immigration policies. Born in St Thomas, he has lived in the US for the past five years, got his green card in 2023 and says he has never been in trouble with the law. “My doubts come from the fact that every day is something new and I feel that I may have problems re-entering J’can green card holders wary about US travel ... as Trump immigration policies take hold Jamaica-born Eddie Edwards wins special commissioner election in south Florida Carson ‘Eddie’ Edwards Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett Irwine Clare, head of Caribbean Immigration Service. Please see TRAVEL, P3
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