Mayor of Lauderhill, Jamaican-born Denise Grant, is extending holiday greetings to Jamaicans at home and in the diaspora.

In an interview with Observer Online on Thursday, Mayor Grant said, “To our Jamaican Caribbean diaspora and our global community, I extend warmest wishes for the holiday season. As a daughter of Jamaica, in spite of the challenges faced, I draw strength from our island’s rich history, resilience and faith in God. We pray for Jamaica’s whole recovery from the hurricane’s impact.  Jamaica is a beacon of hope, and its light will continue to shine brightly.”

The mayor also spoke about the role she and other diaspora representatives played in assisting with hurricane relief.

“It was my pleasure to work with Broward County Commissioner Hazelle Rogers, Consul General Oliver Mair and Bishop Henry Fernandez of the Faith Center, Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards and Custos Greene in Manchester to raise funds and relief supplies for Jamaica,” Mayor Grant said, while highlighting some of the community projects that she spearheaded in Lauderhill, that benefited Jamaicans and the Caribbean diaspora.

“This year, the city of Lauderhill did some fantastic community projects, including assistance for those experiencing food insecurity in Lauderhill. Here in the holidays, we did a toy drive giveaway for kids, distributed gifts, holiday meals and essential supplies to military veterans. We also beautified our neighbourhoods, parks and public spaces by planting greenery, picking up litter and refreshing the landscape.

“Looking ahead in 2026, we will continue to promote peace, unity and respect for all faiths and cultures in the city of Lauderhill. We will continue building a community that values inclusiveness, compassion and understanding. We will also continue to work on the city’s multimodal transportation needs and to complement the city’s existing and future land uses and overall transportation vision,” she continued.

Mayor Grant further pledged to continue working and implementing measures for the benefit of the Caribbean diaspora in Lauderhill.

“As we look ahead, my vision for Lauderhill remains bold: decrease crime, improve public safety, reduce taxes for working families, and expand health and wellness initiatives. I firmly believe that Lauderhill is a city of promise, poised to thrive. In all, safer streets, lower taxes and programmes/initiatives to improve quality of life,” she disclosed.

Some of the initiatives that Mayor Grant has been involved include the reduction of property taxes, senior utility relief, food security advance, the launching of a programme at Lauderhill University to educate high school students about local government and civic engagement, fostering education, wellness and connection for senior citizens, an adopt a park initiative, and mentoring and wellness initiatives for youth and student athletes.