Jamaican woman named on FBI fraud list as JTA warns teachers over council bill

A Jamaican woman accused in a major United States COVID-19 relief fraud case has been placed on the FBI's new most-wanted fraud list, while Jamaica Teachers Association president-elect LaSania Harrison is calling on educators to prepare for fresh resistance to the proposed Jamaica Teaching Council bill.

The FBI identified the fugitive as 41-year-old Elaine Andie Esco, also known as Annie and Annie Palmer, who was last seen in Palm Beach County, South Florida, on June 3, 2025. The bureau is offering US$150,000 for information leading to her arrest and conviction. Esco was reportedly due in court two days after she was last seen but did not appear, following a federal warrant issued on May 22, 2025.

Investigators allege that from May 2020, Esco and others filed more than 90 fraudulent applications under US relief programmes, including the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and Shuttered Venue Operations Grants. Authorities say the filings misrepresented staff numbers, payroll costs and revenue, resulting in about US$29 million in PPP payments and US$3.88 million in SVOG funds being improperly paid out. Esco faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and transactional money laundering.

In Montego Bay on Thursday, Harrison told teachers at the JTA St. James Parish Association annual general meeting at Calvary Baptist Church that the JTC bill remains a serious risk to the profession. She argued that the proposed council could be dominated by non-teachers, that the education minister would have too much influence, and that teachers accused of misconduct could be investigated by both the council and school boards while losing pay after licence suspension.

Harrison said the association wants at least 70 to 75 per cent of the council to be teachers, with direct JTA representation. She urged teachers to study the bill and be ready to act if the association calls on them.

In Hanover, councillors also criticised the National Solid Waste Management Authority over uncollected garbage and rat infestation concerns. Deputy Mayor of Lucea and Sandy Bay councillor Andria Dehaney Grant said 31 districts were listed as missed in May, but councillors argued the problem was wider, with garbage being collected mainly along main roads. Hanover Chamber of Commerce president Charmaine Anderson-Gail said the chamber would write to Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie and the NSWMA leadership.