Dylann Roof Was Planning Charleston Shooting 'For Six Months,' Roommate Says

The Huffington Post  |  By Andy Campbell Email Posted: 06/18/2015 6:41 pm EDT Updated: 06/18/2015 11:59 pm

Dylann Roof's roommate says the suspect was planning something big leading up to the alleged shooting at a South Carolina church Wednesday that left nine people dead.

Dalton Tyler told ABC News that he'd known Roof for at least seven months, and that the 21-year-old was "planning something like that for six months."

ABC reports: Many of Roof's family members have repeatedly declined to comment on the 21-year-old suspect, but his friends, previous police reports and his uncle have painted a picture of a shut-in with no job and plenty of anger.

His uncle, Carson Cowles, recalled telling his sister, the suspect's mother, several years ago that he thought Roof was too introverted, and described his nephew as "quiet, soft-spoken boy."

"I said he was like 19 years old, he still didn't have a job, a driver's license or anything like that and he just stayed in his room a lot of the time," Cowles said in a telephone interview with Reuters.

“He was big into segregation and other stuff,” Tyler said. “He said he wanted to start a civil war. He said he was going to do something like that and then kill himself.”

Tyler said he met Roof, a Lexington, South Carolina native, through a good friend. He also said Roof’s parents, with whom he said the suspect was “on and off,” had previously bought him a gun but never allowed him to take it with him until this past week. more

THE GLEANER MINUTE: GSAT results out ... Student stabbed to death ... Phillips addresses nation

Yemalla Edwards, PALAS recipient meets JAMAICA's Ambassador to USA, Stephen Charles Vasciannie in Washington, DC.

PALAS Student News Published 6/19/15

After five weeks of building on his young medical career in Maryland/DC, Yemalla Edwards, the PALAS recipient and UWI-Medical student story caught the attention of Stephen Charles Vasciannie, Jamaica's Ambassador to Washington.

Yemalla meets the JA ambassador in Washington, DC

The ambassador requested to meet Yemalla in person after he viewed recent articles and videos about the inspirational story and his struggles and road to success of the St. Catherine-McCooks Pen student who was homeless in his first year at the University of the West Indies (UWI). 

The meeting was arranged/coordinated by Lorna Kirlew and they met at the Embassy in Washington, D.C. It was a fabulous meeting. Kirlew and Yemalla informed Mr. Vasciannie about the Peace and Love Academic Scholarship (PALAS, Inc.) program which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and spearheaded by Rula Brown. The ambassador, expressed amazement of the accomplishments the PALAS team has delivered to date, 187 scholarships in four years. The ambassador was especially impressed when he was informed of the seventy-two scholarships awarded in 2014-2015.

Yemalla  will return to Jamaica on June 19, 2015 to continue his studies at UWI. He aspires to be a Neurosurgeon. Yemalla completed a 5-week intern at a Pediatric Center in Maryland/DC, he also shadowed several other Medical Doctors in various medical facilities.

Yemalla has expressed his appreciation to each and everyone who made this experience a memorable one, he will cherish it forever. 

PALAS goal is to award 125 scholarships in 2015-2016 and is seeking contributions. All donations may be made online at www.PALAS1.org or send a check payable to PALAS, P.O. Box 5461, Alpharetta, GA 30023.

IN JAMAICA: Gunshot drills at school Frequent firefights among criminals force measure at Denham Town Primary

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, June 19, 2015 

STUDENTS attending Denham Town Primary School in west Kingston are being put through 'gunshot drills' that train them how to react during gun battles between thugs — a common occurrence in the volatile community.

da drill

Denham Town Primary School Principal Eugenne Brown told the Jamaica Observer that students at her school and others in the area are suffering because of the never-ending gang war that has claimed the lives of dozens of people and caused injury to more than 50 children in recent years.

Over the past week alone, two people have been killed and more than 10 others injured by gangsters locked in a deadly fight for turf.

"At some schools, teachers take students through fire drills, but at our institution we are forced to conduct things like gunshot drills," Brown told the Observer on Wednesday amidst sporadic bouts of gunfire in close proximity to the school.

Several people could be seen scurrying to safety -- knowing full well that the gangsters were at it again.

Inside the schoolyard, at the sound of the deafening gunfire, Brown's students -- ages six to 12 years -- reacted almost instinctively, stopping all their activities and running for cover.

Teachers explained that the drills are necessary, given the frequency of violent breakouts in the community, with criminals using the streets close to where the children play as battlefields.

While there was no report of death or injury Wednesday, the teachers were well aware of the scene that played out Monday outside the neighbouring St Anne's Primary School where a man died after being chased and shot multiple times by men travelling in a motor car.

Police said, in that incident, the man, Oniel Carnegie, was walking along the road when the gunmen alighted from a car and opened fire at him.

In a desperate bid to escape, he ran into a nearby shop where he was cornered and shot dead. A woman who was in the area was also shot and injured.

The incident brought activities at St Anne's Primary to a halt as educators had to instantly put aside their sticks of chalk and dusters to protect the young students who all huddled in corners. more

IN JAMAICA: Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) cheers and tears across corporate area....Tanashae Barrett, was able to secure perfect scores and was selected to attend the school of her choice, Campion College. "I am so proud, words cannot explain," said the mother.

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer Staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, June 19, 2015    

Students at Jessie Ripoll celebrate as they are told over
 the school’s intercom system which high schools they will
attend come September.

CHEERS, tears and, in some instances, howls of disappointment from students and parents alike greeted the release yesterday of Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) results at schools across the Corporate Area.

From as early as 8:00 am, parents were seen at the gates of several schools, eagerly waiting to hear at which high school their children were placed.

At Jessie Ripoll Primary, tensions were high leading up to the 1:00 pm time slot when the principal, Marcia Detry Fogah, promised that she would announce the grades on the school's intercom.

As the bell rang, there was silence on the school grounds when the names of the students were read.

Tanya Barrette broke down in tears as she heard that her daughter, Tanashae Barrett, was able to secure perfect scores and was selected to attend the school of her choice, Campion College.

"I am so proud, words cannot explain," said the mother.

Her husband, Vincent, shared similar sentiments.

"The results today are just the accumulation of hard work and dedication," said Vincent who hails from the community of Manley Meadows.

His neighbour, Norman Baxter, was equally pleased.

"From before the results came out I was confident that my daughter, Kiona, would do well," said Baxter.

As the celebrations continued, Alison Hylton, a mother, stood in a corner looking nervous.

Principal of Dunrobin Preparatory, Karen Golbourne, gives
 Kenrique Stewart a hug after she emerged as one of the top
 GSAT performers at the school. At right: A happy moment for
 a student and her mother at Jessie Ripoll.

"Mi hear dem say him get selected for a good school, but I don't know which one," Hylton said of her son.

Minutes later, the boy turned up crying, as he was not selected for the school of his choice. 

"I told him that nothing was wrong with the school and he just have to work hard," said the mother as she tried to comfort her child.

Meanwhile, at other sections of the school grounds parents were seen running with open arms to meet and greet their children.

Another top performer, Kiona Baxter of Jessie Ripoll, with her
parents and sibling wearing broad smiles after receiving the
 good news. (PHOTOS: BRYAN CUMMINGS)

Principal Fogah told the Jamaica Observer that, compared to last year, teachers have seen a marked improvement in grades.

"We, as teachers, are all proud of the students and even the parents who all contributed towards the effort," said Fogah.

At Dunrobin Primary, things were not as calm with parents who were left fuming at the gates, claiming that the principal was taking too long to release the results.

"From morning we come here and all now we don't hear the schools that the children were selected for. We are not pleased with how the principal is treating us," said one parent.

Principal Noel Watt shared a different story.

"Part of our aim is to ensure that the results are handed out in an orderly and disciplined manner," said Watt.

more

Michael Jackson's Son, Blanket, Changed His Name After Being Bullied

Michael Jackson's son Blanket Jackson is changing his name after being bullied his whole life

THE GLEANER MINUTE: GSAT improvements ... Dudus relatives persons of interest... NEPA warns Digicel

IN JAMAICA, MyReport: Kidney Disease At Eight And Raped By Dad ... Michelle McIntyre's Story

Published:Thursday | June 18, 2015

At the age of eight, Michelle McIntyre was diagnosed with a kidney disease.

If that were not enough, a daily diet of medication made it worse.

Michelle McIntyre. Read how she overcame her situation
 at www.jamaica-gleaner.com/myReport

But nothing could top being raped by her father for the next four years, even while battling kidney issues.

Now 35 years old, an author, designer and CEO of her own company, Virtuous Expressions, McIntyre has written her first book, Overcoming Abuse By God's Design, which details how she overcame sexual abuse.

This is Michelle McIntyre's story:

In the early stages of my life, I was diagnosed with a kidney disease. I was so sick that the doctors gave my mother days for me to live.

At the time of my illness, my father was not living with us; it was my mother and my four siblings so she had to do it all on her own.

The trips to and from the University Hospital were tough for her, but she endured. She sent several messages to my father who, at the time, was living with someone else in Kingston.

It took a while before he came to visit. By this time, I was sent home from the hospital with more medication than an eight-year-old should ever take.

I was very excited to see my father to the point where I cried when it was time for him to leave. Time went by and my father came back to live with us, but this proved to be the worst thing that could ever happen.

Michelle McIntyre: I lived a life of fear because he
 became physically abusive as he no longer
had a pure love for me, instead it was
contaminated by his sexual desires.

All was well at first and he and I had a great father-daughter relationship. After a while, though, I started to become uncomfortable around him because his hugs, touches and kisses started to feel different. At this point, I didn't know what to do because this was my father whom I looked to for protection.

Left With Disbelief, Fear, Anger

I would never believe that he could do anything to hurt me, but I was so wrong.

In the months that followed, I was sexually molested and raped by my father. I lived a life of fear because he became physically abusive as he no longer had a pure love for me, instead it was contaminated by his sexual desires.

My life became hell on earth. For years, I suffered his abuse while being in and out of the hospital and not knowing how to tell my mom because of fear that it would destroy her marriage. So I kept it all in.

But as time went by, I got angrier. Why was this happening to me? I grew up in a Christian family, my grandmother, aunts, cousins and mom were all Christians and I got baptised at the age of 6 years so we were all serving God, so when I realised that despite my faithfulness to God he was still allowing this to happen to me, I became angry and bitter. I prayed so long for things to change, but they only changed for the worse.   more

IN JAMAICA (GENIUS) : PERFECT SCORES IN ALL GSAT Subjects by Eleven-year old, Tariq Wright of Holy Childhood Preparatory School...“I studied very hard to get good grades and that helped. I did two hours of studying each day,” Tariq said.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015 | 6:45 PM  

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Eleven-year old, Tariq Wright, a student at the Holy Childhood Preparatory School, will be attending the Wolmer’s Boys’ School in September after receiving perfect scores in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

Results for GSAT were released to primary and preparatory schools across the country today.

Eleven-year old, Tariq Wright,

A very happy Tariq told JIS News that he received 100 per cent in mathematics, 100 per cent in language arts, 100 per cent in science, 100 per cent in social studies, and 12/12 for communication task.

“I studied very hard to get good grades and that helped. I did two hours of studying each day,” Tariq said.

He said he was surprised that he received all hundreds as “I thought I would get one wrong in the science and one wrong in the social studies”.

Tariq noted that he chose Wolmer’s Boys’ School as it was an “all-round institution” that focuses not only on education but also on extracurricular activities such as sports.

He also thanked the teachers at Holy Childhood Preparatory, whom he said, “assisted the students greatly” in their preparations for GSAT.

Proud mother Roxanne Wright, who is Account Supervisor at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), said she is very pleased about of her son’s performance.

“I am feeling proud of him and I thank God as without God all of this would not have been possible,” Wright said.

She told JIS News that she was not surprised by his performance as she “knew that he could do it”.

“I helped him... when he came home with his homework if there is anything to research I would try to help him with the research aspect of it. I also quizzed him to ensure that he knew the material,” Wright said.

Tariq told JIS News that he hopes to pursue a career as an industrial engineer. more

BREAKING NEWS>>>>>HATE CRIME : WHITE MALE MURDERED 9 BLACKS IN A CHURCH DURING PRAYER MEETING in SOUTH CAROLINA: Shooting At Charleston Church Prompts Large Police Response...Rev. Clementa Pinckney is dead

The Huffington Post  |  By Kelly Chen Email Posted: 06/17/2015 10:34 pm EDT
Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports

Nine people were killed in a shooting at the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on Wednesday night, the Charleston Police Department confirmed at news conference early Thursday.

Calling it "the worst night of my career," Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen said a gunman entered the church during a prayer meeting and opened fire. Eight were found dead at the scene, while two others were transported to a hospital where one later died.

None of the victims have been named publicly.

Mullen said there were others who survived the attack but did not offer details.

The suspect, a 21-year-old male with sandy blonde hair, is still at large and Mullen called on the public and the media to contact police with any information they may have. Mullen said a reward would be offered, with the amount to be announced on Thursday.

"I do believe this is a hate crime," Mullen said. "It will be investigated as a hate crime."

“The only reason someone could walk into a church and shoot people praying is out of hate,” said Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, speaking at the same news conference. “It is the most dastardly act that one could possibly imagine.”

The historically black church, commonly referred to as "Mother Emanuel," has been around for hundreds of years. According to the church's website, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church has "one of the largest and oldest black congregations south of Baltimore, Maryland." One of the church's founding members, Denmark Vesey, organized a slave uprising that started in 1821.

The church is led by Rev. Clementa Pinckney, who also serves as a South Carolinastate senator.

The church holds Bible study every Wednesday, reports Fox40. According to News2, the alleged shooter reportedly began shooting during the prayer service.

Earlier a young man was apprehended, but he was later released. People from the scene posted on social media expressing doubts of his involvement. Police confirmed the shooter is still at large.

Around 11 p.m. police began pushing media across the street to the Marriott Hotel where a possible bomb threat was reported. more

CONGRATS : JAMAICAN artiste Omi goes gold in United States as Cheerleader cracks Billboard Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart after just 8 weeks....To date, Cheerleader has sold over 641,098 copies in the US and over 210 Million YOUTUBE Hits

BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer writer  Thursday, June 18, 2015    

SINGER Omi has broken into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart in the United States, making him the seventh Jamaican artiste to do so.

OMI

The Felix Jaehn remix of his 2012 single, Cheerleader, jumps from number 11 to number seven this week. The single is in its eighth week on the main Billboard singles list, and its 12th week at the top of Billboard's Digital Reggae Singles chart.

To date, Cheerleader has sold over 641,098 copies in the US and has been certified gold.

Omi (real name Omar Passley) joins an elite list of Jamaicans who have made the Billboard 100. The others are:

* Millie Small (in 1964 with My Boy Lollipop, which reached number two);

* Desmond Dekker and the Aces (in 1969 with Israelites which reached number nine);

* Carl Douglas (with Kung Fu Fighting which hit number one in 1974);

* Inner Circle, number eight in 1993 with Bad Boys;

* Shaggy, with Angel (number one in 2001, It Wasn't Me (number one in 2000), Boombastic number three in 1995);

* Sean Paul (three number one hits: Baby Boy, featuring Beyoncé in 2003, Get Busy in 2003, and Temperature in 2006). He also hit the top 10 with Gimme the Light (number seven in 2002), When You Gonna (Give it Up to Me) featuring Keyshia Cole (number three in 2006), Break It Off (featuring Rihanna, number nine in 2007) and We Be Burnin (number six in 2005). more

Jamaica's Minister of Education, Thwaites: More than 800 failed to turn up for Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT)...."We cannot afford for children to drop out of school prematurely,"

Wednesday, June 17, 2015 -- Balford Henry   

MINISTER of Education Ronald Thwaites said yesterday that his ministry is concerned about some 800 primary level students who registered to take the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), but failed to turn up to sit the exams.

Ronald Thwaites

"We have tracked them down and we are ensuring that they are placed somewhere," Thwaites told the House of Representatives in a statement.

"We cannot afford for children to drop out of school prematurely, whether it is because of pregnancy, whether it is because of a lack of lunch money, whether it is because of disinterest in their education. It matters not," he stated.

The minister noted that the Ministry of National Security has stated that staying in school reduces the likelihood of anti-social behaviour later on in life.

Thwaites made the statement as he informed the House of Representatives that of the 38,662 who had registered for GSAT, 37,575 had sat the test. He said that 33,546 were placed in high schools, and 3,177 in technical high schools, while 836 were sent to primary and junior high schools.

He said that 27,189, or 73 per cent, were placed in their schools of preference, and 9,486 -- or 25 per cent -- in schools in close proximity to their homes.

He said, too, that 8,682 students on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education sat the test, of which 6,704 or 74 per cent were selected for the schools of their choice, and 1,489 placed in terms of proximity to their homes. more

THE GLEANER MINUTE: New STI circulating ... Man chopped to death ... T&T PM denies allegations

The Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) No Longer Measures Achievement, Teachers Claim.... Sixth-graders across Jamaica are anxious to be placed at the high schools of their dreams.

Published:Tuesday | June 16, 2015 - George Tomblin, Gleaner Intern

The results of the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) will be released tomorrow, and sixth-graders across Jamaica are anxious to be placed at the high schools of their dreams.

Jennifer Clemmings (centre) of Denham Town
Primary speaks with students about their upcoming
Grade Six Achievement Test expectations.

However, teachers at Denham Town and Bridgeport primary schools yesterday revealed their concerns with GSAT.

Jennifer Clemmings, a grade six teacher at Denham Town Primary, said this year, grades were expected to be "fair to good", She said that "[the students] got some good results" last year.

Even though she believes her students performed well on the test, Clemmings argued it was not an accurate measure of ability to perform academically. She pointed out that "you have some students who are gifted, and some might answer in class - might speak up in class - but, when they are handed written tests, they fall down".

At Bridgeport Primary, four teachers spoke to The Gleaner, but it was Nicola Francis who was most critical of GSAT.

"It used to be an achievement test," she began. She argued it is "unfair to sit a one-shot exam where anything can go wrong ... anything can happen in the morning and the child will fail the morning of the exam."

All four teachers, when questioned whether they believed that GSAT was an accurate measure of academic ability, answered with a resounding "no", but all are forced to accept the reality of the test.

Bobbi Kristina Brown Update: Family Wants Her To ‘Die Peacefully’ At Home As Hopes Of Recovery Fade

Bobbi Kristina Brown Update: Family Wants Her To ‘Die Peacefully’ At Home As Hopes Of Recovery Fade

Bobbi Kristina Brown’s family wants her to “die peacefully” at her home, Mirror Online reported. The daughter of Bobby Brown and the late Whitney Houston has been fighting for her life for the last four months, and has shown little signs of improvement.

Bobbi Kristina’s family reportedly is preparing to bring her out of a rehabilitation facility in Atlanta so that she can spend her final days at home --  in suburban Roswell, Georgia, where she was found unresponsive in January.  - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/rulabrownmusic

IN JAMAICA: Brazen daylight killing of Oniel Carnegie causes chaos 'Downtown Kingston' on Bond Street, near the North Street intersection.

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, June 16, 2015    

Detective Investigation

CLASSES at St Anne's Primary School in downtown Kingston were disrupted yesterday after thugs chased and shot a man dead in a daylight attack outside the school on Bond Street, near the North Street intersection.

Police report that about 11:30 am, the man -- identified as Oniel Carnegie otherwise called 'Iron Man' -- was walking along the roadway when a car with several armed men aboard drove up.

"The car just come up and some man run out and start run down the man and a fire shot," a woman at the scene said.

The victim, in a desperate bid to escape, ran into a nearby shop to seek refuge, but was cornered and peppered with bullets.

A woman who was close by was also shot and injured during the attack that brought activity in the area to a halt.

The gunmen, in their bid to leave, ran into a team of police on patrol in the area, resulting in an exchange of gunfire that sent people scampering. No one was hit in that exchange.

Inside St Anne's, teachers did their best to keep young students calm, however, several parents who gathered outside the school had signs of worry on their faces as they spoke in hushed tones among themselves about the incident.

Yesterday police linked the killing to a series of attacks carried out by criminal gangs in the area.

Head of the Kingston Western Police Division, Senior Superintendent Cornwall 'Bigga' Ford, however, assured residents that the authorities will be working "around the clock" to ensure that order is maintained.

Meanwhile, yesterday the police disclosed that they were hot on the trails of men behind two shooting incidents in West Kingston that left five people injured last week. more

(CONGRATS) : St Jago High wins Stock Market Game. Lando Graham and Demar Blake top performers....Calabar High School student Donald Lydner won $10,000 for third place. Thirty-seven schools participated this year, up from 22 last year.

ALDANE WALTERS Career&Education writer editorial@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, June 14, 2015  

Winner accepts prize

SOON after the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Stock Market Game began last October St Jago High School student Lando Graham found himself in last place. But by the time trading ended in May, he had risen above the competition and, at the awards ceremony on Friday at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston, he walked away with the $20,000 cash prize.

Graham's schoolmate Demar Blake earned second place, taking home $15,000.

Their individual successes combined made St Jago the top-performing school in the seventh annual games, earning the institution $40,000, a tablet computer and a trophy.

Calabar High School student Donald Lydner won $10,000 for third place. The three top boys also received plaques and certificates of participation.

Graham said the win was as a result of hard work.

The top three students in the 2014-2015 Stock Market
 Game (from left) Donald Lynder, Lando Graham and
 Donmar Blake along with top teacher Elorine Johnson
(second right) and General Manager of the
 Jamaica Stock Exchange Marlene Street Forrest.

"I really wanted to do this and I knew that was going to be hard work. I did a lot of research and moved up slowly," he said, recounting his journey throughout the competition.

The sixth-form student said that upon starting the game he immediately made profits, but foolish decision-making caused him to lose a lot of money subsequent to that. The loss caused him to consider withdrawing, but he dug deep and was intrinsically motivated to restart, moving from last place all the way to the top.

"When I was at the bottom, I saw that failure was only the opportunity to begin again; but more intelligently," he said, smiling. more

NEW YORK, USA --- World sprint record holder Usain Bolt determined to get it right for World Champs

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, June 16, 2015    

NEW YORK, USA -- Running just one event at August's IAAF World Championships or pulling out all together if his form continues to dip below the stratospheric levels he has set for himself is not on the cards for double world record holder Usain Bolt.

Usain Bolt

The man who has rewritten the record books for the short sprints and has reignited track and field globally is going through one of his worst seasons since he turned professional, as he is yet to break 10:00 seconds for the 100m or 20.00 seconds in the 200m. Despite this drop of form Bolt gave very strong assurance that quitting is not an option.

"I don't ever want anyone to say I have backed down from a challenge. I just want to work and get it right in Beijing," he told reporters while trying to come to grips with why he was not running as fast as he thinks he should.

After running a disappointing 20.29 seconds to win the 200m at Saturday's IAAF Diamond League meet in New York, Bolt was asked if he would consider running just one event at the World Championships in Beijing in August.

"I don't think you should back out of a championship or a challenge because you don't feel you are where you want to be," Bolt said, "You have to go out and give the people what they want, I want to always compete at my best even if I am not at my best, I want to go out there and still do my best because all the fans want to see you compete and I want to work and do my best."

So far this year, 14 men have run under 10.00 seconds in the 100m with just two going under 20 seconds in the 200m. Bolt who will defend both titles in Beijing after winning them two years ago in Moscow, Russia, says he and coach Glen Mills will have to figure out why he has not been able to run faster. more

Jamaicans head to Buckingham Palace (MASSIVE CONGRATS) : NICOLE NATION, PALAS Recipient/Medical Student and 25 y-o JEROME COWANS are two Jamaicans to receive the inaugural Queen's Young Leaders Awards from Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace next Monday, June 22....Before receiving the award, the winners will meet UK Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street

Sunday, June 14, 2015   

MEDICAL student and Jamaica Observer writer Nicole Nation will be one of two Jamaicans to receive the inaugural Queen's Young Leaders Awards from Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace next Monday, June 22.

Nicole Nation Jerome Cowan

Twenty-two-year old Nation is a disability ambassador, and is being recognised for raising funds for projects to assist the disabled community, including a school for the hearing impaired. She provides online content for the Observer's All Woman magazine.

Jerome Cowans, 25, has been recognised for co-founding Leaders Endeavouring for Adolescent Development. The project provides personal development opportunities for young people so they will go on to better futures.

Nicole Nation accepts the Margaret Feldman Academic
 Scholarship from Natasha Campbell at PALAS
Ceremony in JA

Nation and Cowans are among five young people from the Caribbean, and 60 from across the Commonwealth, who will receive the honour "for taking the lead in transforming the lives of others and make a lasting difference in their communities", according to information from the Queen's Young Leaders secretariat.

Before receiving the award, the winners will meet UK Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street, visit the headquarters of global social networking company Twitter, and meet with senior executives at BBC World Service.

Following the ceremony, they will spend four days in the UK to take part in a residential development programme as part of the award prize. The programme includes workshops at Cambridge University, meetings with UK businesses leaders, and visits to life changing social action projects.

Jerome Cowans said: "I am so happy to be one of the first recipients of the Queen's Young Leaders Award. To be recognised for my work and to be presented with an Award by Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace is such a huge honour."

"I want this to be an inspiration for other young Jamaicans to pursue whatever they are interested in with vigour and commitment," Nation told the Observer.

PALAS Appreciation
 Certifcate

The Queen's Young Leaders Programme was established by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, in partnership with Comic Relief and The Royal Commonwealth Society in honour of Her Majesty The Queen's 60 years of service to the Commonwealth on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee.

Queen Elizabeth II of Britain is crowned in
 Westminster Abbey on this day
 in history 1953.

"Guided by the values of the Commonwealth Charter, the goal of the Programme is to enable young people to step up as leaders and improve the lives of people across the Commonwealth," the secretariat said.

"Award winners are aged between 18 and 29 and are working to support others, raise awareness and inspire change on a variety of different issues including; education, climate change, gender equality, mental health and disability equality." more