News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. April 19, 2019: Jamaica now has a new honorary consul in Philadelphia.
Jamaican-born immigrant and Hard Beat Communications director, Christopher H. Chaplin, has been appointed to the post by the Government of Jamaica. In this position, Mr. Chaplin will represent and work for Jamaicans in the Philadelphia area and also represent the island of Jamaica in the Philadelphia. Based on his background and experience, he is also expected to play a part in Jamaica’s investment outreach efforts.
Mr. Chaplin has extensive banking experience in Jamaica and the United States and has worked for premier financial institutions in both countries. He is currently senior associate at the Financial Services of the Opportunity Finance Network, an organization that manages an investment portfolio of over $600 million and invests in community development financial institutions, loan funds, venture funds and credit unions nationwide.
He is also a member of the Advisory Board of Kingston, Jamaica based, Chocolate Dreams Limited, a manufacturer and distributor of premium chocolates; a mentor and adviser to Kingston, Jamaica based Kraas Images and financial advisor to FanCheer Interactive, Inc., a sports technology company located in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
In Philadelphia, Mr. Chaplin is a member of the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs for the City of Philadelphia and served on the Transition Team of Mayor Jim Kenney on the Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Committee.
The new honorary consul recently served as co-chairman of the Philadelphia Organizing Committee of Team Jamaica Bickle having stepped down in January 2019 and remains a member.
He also previously served as co-chairman of the Philadelphia Caribbean Complete Count Committee of the US Census and was awarded the 2010 Award of Excellence by the African and Caribbean Business Council for his leadership in the African and Caribbean community during the 2010 US Census.
Mr. Chaplin is the founder of the Canada Hall Scholarship Fund and is the founding president of the St. George’s College Old Boys Association of The Northeast.
He earned a BSc. in Industrial Engineering from the University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and an MBA from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
He is married to his wife of 26 years, Margaret, a native of Dominica, and the couple have two adult sons.
