NEW YORK, USA — The New York chapter of Generation 2000 (G2K), the young professional affiliate of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, has moved to shed its image as a purely partisan organisation with the launch of a series of programmes aimed at assisting Jamaican nationals here.

The first in the series of programmes, a Forum on Immigration issues, takes place in Brooklyn on Saturday, and is "designed to debunk certain misconceptions Jamaicans here have about immigration issues," according to Patrick Callum who heads the chapter.

He said the Forum — which is also opened to other Caribbean nationals — will discuss a wide range of immigration issues, including the recent executive order by US President Barack Obama granting some relief from deportation for certain categories of illegal immigrants. Callum said that "the measure is not one that is well understood within the Jamaican community here."

"We (G2K) see a need to help sensitise the community about this as well as other [vital] issues...," said Callum.

Jamaicans are believed to be among the largest blocs of undocumented nationals here.

Callum said that other issues to be discussed at the forum include matters relating to Green Cards, citizenship and document filing. The forum will be led by Claudette Gonzales, a former immigration officer and current lecturer on immigration and citizenship matters at York College, City University of New York.

Meanwhile, Callum was quick to point out that the new image being projected by G2K's NY chapter was "not an indication that we have a different agenda from the parent body".

"We feel, however, that the raw politics should be left to the parent body in Jamaica, while we focus on the issues affecting nationals here," he explained.