In addressing some of the issue facing Caribbean migrants, Dr. Manley implored everyone to take responsibilities for themselves and their respective islands. "Maybe we have been depending too much on the people we elect. A democracy works best when it has citizens who are willing to be accountable," she said. While empathizing with the terrorism issues, currently affecting the United States, Dr. Manley pointed out that the Caribbean was also experiencing terrorism in its own form. "For us poverty is terrorism. The amount of guns that come into Jamaica from this country is terrorism. Jamaica is way ahead of the other islands with their homicide rate. "Guyana is right behind us and some other islands are beginning to see the same thing happening."
"It is with pride and humility that I accept the Prime Minister's Award for Service to Jamaican Nationals abroad. I am very proud of my Jamaican heritage and over the past thirty years I have worked to maintain ties at home and abroad. My goal was always to support and help to foster cultural, educational and economic stability for Jamaican Nationals within the Greater Hartford area. I have a great sense of pride and fulfillment as I see first, second and third generations of Jamaicans excel educationally and economically. As one of the founding members of NAJASO, the National Organization of Jamaicans and Supportive Organizations, I have reached out on the national level to bring Jamaicans together to support Jamaica and to maintain their Jamaican pride and heritage."
Through informed presentations on immigration and the need for economic social and political on empowerment, Irwine and his partner, Attorney-at-law Winston Tucker, have established themselves as major community advocates on immigration reform and issues germane to the Caribbean community. In fact since 1995 Irwine and his organization have assisted in excess of 150,000 Caribbean nationals in becoming citizens of the United States. They single handedly led the lobbying effort for an amnesty for undocumented immigrants, collecting thousands of petitions at local events and even taking their call to the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn.
