October 9, 2026 - Events
Finally, I had the pleasure of meeting the legendary Jamaican-born Dr. Answorth Allen.
You may read about his storied background and philanthropy here.
October 4, 2026 - Events
The Consulate General of Jamaica in New York invited me to the Welcome Reception for Consul General Roderick Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s twelfth Consul General to New York.
It was a remarkably teeming affair—full of pomp, circumstance, energy, and, fittingly, the aura of the man being welcomed.
A man of the people.
Whether you are a “Risto,” “Risto-Rebel,” or “Rebel”—terms borrowed from Xavier Murphy of Jamaicans.com—CG Mair seems equally at home.
What do I mean?
At a previous event, Chief Community Officer Chris Benjamin, MBA, quoted a member of the Jamaican diaspora:
“The late Consul General Alsion Roach Wilson was a star, but Consul General Oliver Mair is a rock star.”
There is certainly an argument to be made.
The late CG Alsion Roach Wilson, OD, was extraordinarily talented in her own right—a spectacular fundraiser, among many other things. I am admittedly biased because of our friendship. Alas, the last time I saw her was at an NYU event she invited me to in the spring of last year. A few months later, she succumbed to cancer.
But I digress.
Back to the Welcome Reception.
The event was exceptionally well attended, with diplomats and representatives from Curaçao, the Netherlands, Greece, Colombia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Trinidad and Tobago.
There were also representatives from the City University of New York (CUNY), the Office of the Jamaican Prime Minister (including his sister), the Office of the Mayor of Boston, the Office of the Mayor of New York, the U.S. Congress, the New York State Assembly, and the New York State Senate.
In attendance were dignitaries, professionals, entrepreneurs, academics, executives, businesspeople, and celebrities—including Patricia “Miss Pat” Chin, the matriarch of VP Records and widely regarded as the godmother of reggae.
And speaking of celebrities…
To borrow from Wild Cherry:
They were dancin’ and singin’ and movin’ to the groovin’
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted…
The CG is dancing, singing and moving to the riddim!
Yes, the CG actually sang.
He has a theatre background in addition to his business background, and it showed.
Joining him in the songfest was the iconic and legendary Nadine “Action (not a Bag-a-Mouth)” Sutherland, OD. Later, Ms. Sutherland and I reminisced about our mutual late friend, M. Joy Magnus, and her former classmate.
An exceptional live band and singer backed the songfest. At one point, I was speaking to a colleague on the phone, and she thought I was at a live concert.
And it wasn’t only music.
There were poems, too.
Eat, drink, and be merry!
The Jamaican cuisine was top-notch, and the beverages were on another level. One attendee remarked to me that it was the first time he had seen wining and dining at this level at the Jamaican Consulate.
As a Keto dieter and intermittent faster, I did not avail myself of everything on the cornucopia the servers kept bringing throughout the evening, nor did I partake of the alcoholic beverages at the bar.
But I certainly feasted my eyes.
Chicken and beef patties. Puddings. Cakes. Other meat dishes. And more.
I did allow myself the jerked and chili wings.
Beyond the wining and dining, I particularly enjoyed the networking opportunities. The reception brought together an impressive cross-section of Jamaica’s diplomatic, political, academic, business, cultural, and professional communities.
It was a great evening.
But I would be remiss if I did not end where I began—with the late Consul General Alsion Roach Wilson, OD.
Rest in Peace, Alsion.
She was a friend and, contrary to the quoted member of the diaspora, arguably not merely a star—but a superstar.
I submit that CG Roderick Oliver Mair, standing on the shoulders of giants, will continue and elevate her contribution.
Yes, as a rock star.
He assumes the role of Jamaica’s twelfth Consul General to New York with responsibility for Jamaica’s nationals and interests across thirty-three states in the United States, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico.
That is a formidable mandate.
And judging from the energy, warmth, inclusiveness, cultural pride, and sheer exuberance of his Welcome Reception, CG Mair appears ready to rock.
Nadine Simone Theresa Sutherland, OD – the Illustrious Jamaican Reggae Singer and Dancehall Artist – “Action (not a Bag-a-mouth).”
Flashback Pic (My Pre-Keto Era): RIP, CG Alsion Roach Wilson, OD
September 28, 2026 - Events
The Consulate General of Jamaica in New York recently invited me to attend a Town Hall Meeting featuring Senator the Honorable Kamina Johnson Smith, JP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; the Honorable Matthew Samuda, MP, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change; and Consul General Oliver Mair.
It was an interesting opportunity to hear directly from these representatives of the Jamaican government and to listen to their perspectives on a range of issues affecting Jamaica and Jamaicans at home and abroad.
I had planned to come here and give you an in-depth analysis of the presentations—what was said, what stood out to me, and perhaps even a few things I thought deserved a closer look. But then I thought: why not let you hear it for yourself?
There is something valuable about listening to the speakers directly, hearing their words in context, and forming your own impressions before reading someone else’s interpretation.
So, rather than put my analysis ahead of yours, I’ve decided to share the presentations with you in their entirety via the embedded video below.
Watch them, listen closely, and decide for yourself what resonates, what raises questions, and what deserves further discussion. I’ll leave the analysis—and perhaps the conversation—to begin from there.
Consul General Oliver Mair
David Mullings – Founder/Chairman/CEO of Blue Mahoe Capital
Sydjea Anderson – The Jamaican Prime Minister’s Sister and Former Schoolmate
September 19, 2026 - Events
Yesterday, a student gifted me an expensive and luxurious assortment of mooncakes and other gourmet treats in celebration of the upcoming Mooncake Festival on September 25. She insinuated that she gave it to me because I’m her number-one professor.
I expressed my sincere appreciation and told her that I felt honored. However, I was unable to accept the gift for two reasons. First, as a state-employed faculty member, I am prohibited by New York State law from accepting gifts from students. Second, I’m currently on the keto diet, so I only eat keto-friendly foods.
As the saying goes, it’s the thought that counts—and I truly appreciate the thought behind her generous gesture.
September 16, 2026 - Events
Some New York evenings announce themselves with a red carpet. Others need no carpet at all.
On this particular evening, the invitation was enough.
Negril Village was dressed for a milestone: 32 years of Jamaican culinary excellence, entrepreneurship, hospitality, and community, celebrated in grand style at the beloved restaurant near NYU. It was a private, invitation-only affair, but once the guests began arriving, the three floors seemed to acquire a life of their own.
At the center of it all was Marva Layne, the visionary entrepreneur behind Negril Village, who made her entrance in a bone-white pantsuit—immaculate, confident, and perfectly suited to the occasion. She was unmistakably the guest of honor, although the evening had the unmistakable feel of a gathering among friends who had come not merely to congratulate her, but to celebrate her.
And New York came out.
The guest list was an impressive intersection of Jamaican, New York, American, diplomatic, and civic life. Family and longtime friends mingled with patrons, community leaders, diplomats, and government dignitaries representing the United Nations, the Office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City Hall, the Office of the Manhattan Borough President, the New York State Senate, the New York State Assembly, the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and the Office of the Jamaican Prime Minister—including the Prime Minister’s sister.
The former U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica was there. So was the Jamaican Consul General in New York. And there were many others whose presence underscored the extraordinary reach of the woman being celebrated.
If the proclamations were the official punctuation of the evening, the fashion, music, food, and conversation supplied the exclamation points.
There was no shortage of elegance in the room. Guests arrived polished and celebratory, dressed for an occasion that clearly called for something more than everyday New York attire. Against the restaurant’s warm surroundings, Ms. Layne’s bone-white ensemble provided the evening’s defining sartorial image: luminous, sophisticated, and impossible to overlook.
Then there was the music.
A live DJ kept the energy moving, providing the soundtrack for an evening in which formal ceremony and unmistakable party spirit coexisted beautifully. The MC kept the proceedings on course, guiding the audience through introductions, tributes, speeches, and toasts while allowing the room’s natural exuberance to take over whenever it wished.
And there were plenty of toasts.
One dignitary after another stepped forward with words of recognition. I counted approximately twenty proclamations, along with roughly the same number of statements, tributes, speeches, and toasts. The sheer volume of official recognition was remarkable—but perhaps not surprising given the occasion.
Glasses were raised. Champagne flowed. Conversations spilled across tables and floors. Laughter competed amiably with the DJ. Guests greeted old friends, made new connections, and repeatedly found reasons to linger just a little longer.
Meanwhile, the kitchen delivered what Negril Village does best: its signature food and beverages, presented with the quality and hospitality that have helped sustain the restaurant for more than three decades. The service was impeccable—attentive without intruding upon the festivities.
The official celebration was scheduled for 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Nine o’clock arrived.
The guests did not seem particularly interested in leaving.
That may have been the evening’s most authentic tribute of all.
Because anniversaries of this kind are ultimately less about the number than about the people gathered around it. Thirty-two years of Negril Village represented thirty-two years of relationships, memories, meals, celebrations, business, friendship, Jamaican pride, and New York life.
For one evening, all of those strands came together beneath one roof.
There were proclamations from government officials. There were distinguished guests from both sides of the Caribbean and the Atlantic. There was champagne in the glasses, music in the air, exquisite Jamaican food on the tables, and an atmosphere that became increasingly festive as the hours passed.
But the evening belonged to Marva Layne.
In her bone-white pantsuit, surrounded by family, friends, dignitaries, patrons, and admirers, she stood at the center of a celebration that was ultimately a celebration of vision made tangible.
Thirty-two years later, Negril Village is not simply marking an anniversary. It is celebrating a legacy.
And judging by how reluctantly the guests departed, the legacy is very much alive.
🇯🇲🥂✨
On the Right – Attorney and Vice President of the Jamaica College Old Boys Northeast Association
Sydjea Anderson – The Jamaican Prime Minister’s Sister and my Former Schoolmate
NYC Mayor Bill DiBlasio
Marva Layne – Restaurateur and the Lady of the Hour
