Avia Ustanny, Outlook Writer
DAHLIA WALKER-HUNTINGTON laughs when she admits that she is one
of 'those Jamaicans' who, residing abroad, juggles several jobs all at once.
She is a magistrate, trial attorney, arbitrator and radio commentator.
Walker-Huntington boasts a bi-coastal lifestyle as she works both out of Florida and Jamaica, spending between eight to 10 days in the Caribbean island every month.
An average day for Walker-Huntington involves going to court or office, seeing clients, returning phone calls and working on upcoming trial cases.
"No two days are ever the same," she says.
ZONING VIOLATIONS
The attorney deals with family, criminal and immigration matters in her private practice. As a magistrate for the city of Miramar she deals with zoning violations. She is also a hearing officer for Broward County on animal-care issues. From time to time she conducts hearings over the telephone.
In Florida, her radio programme at WAVES radio your legal corner, comes on twice each month, but here in Jamaica her Independent Talk radio programme hits the airwaves every Thursday.
She is also a consultant for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Jamaica Diaspora project for Southern United States.
Dahlia will also, in 2006 bring to a new level her own private event organising company which has over the years focused on putting together fund-raisers and other calendar events for charitable groups.
The attorney is perhaps the recipient of an entrepreneurial spirit
from her mother, Merle Walker, who was a bar owner in Seven Miles, Bull Bay.
Father Clarence Taylor worked as a Jamaica Union of Travellers
Association driver at the
airport and who took Jamaicans on islandwide tours for many
years.
"He was always telling (me) stories of travelling throughout
Jamaica, especially during the '70s when we were always losing electricity and
had nothing to do but sit and tell stories. From him I got a passion for Jamaica,"
Dahlia recalls.
Her parents migrated with their 19-year-old daughter after she
left Alpha Academy, where she attended high school.
OPPORTUNITIES
Walker-Huntington recalls, "in 1979 when I left Jamaica it was
a totally different place. There were very limited opportunities for advancement
and education. It was either UWI, CAST (now UTech) or teachers' college. None
of those options were for me. My parents who had me late in life migrated to
give me better opportunities."
It was a big change for the couple hard for her father
who was at retirement age and forced to remain at home and harder still for
her mother who became a live-in helper. This was a total change from years of
running her own business.
"Living in the United States is not like visiting. You have to
experience it on your own," the lawyer recalls.
Dahlia also went to work in Florida, employed right out of high
school in administration and accounts, she enrolled in college in 1987, beginning
the extended process of getting first, a journalism degree and then her law
degree. Despite the the hardship of working full-time and going to night school,
Dahlia graduated from the University of Miami School of Law with honours in
1997, this after making the Dean's Honour Scholar between 1994 and 1997.
While at the University of Miami, she also became president of
the Association of Caribbean Law Students 1996-1997 and was given the prize
for Outstanding Student Leader 1997.
Previously, at the Miami Dade College she was Outstanding Alumni
in 2001 and in 1990 and 1991 was awarded for Outstanding Academic Achievements.
"I am very goal-oriented," Dahlia explains.
HEALTH AND STRENGTH
"I knew that this was where I was headed. God gave me health
and strength to get there. It was not easy. I worked full-time and went to work
at nights. But, each day I did it was one day closer to the end. This is the
kind of advice I give to clients especially in the area of immigration."
Dahlia Walker-Huntington is now a Broward County hearing
officer as well as a magistrate for the City of Miramar.
She has also been a solo practitioner since 1997 with her own
law officers. For a short period, August-December, 1996 she was adjunct professor
in political science at Miami Dade College
For her work, Walker-Huntington was The Miami Herald's
Black History Month Honoree in February, 2002 and MYSTIK 1580 Radio Women's
Month Honoree in March 2003.
The attorney-at-law met and married Glenville Huntington, operations
manager at Sunset Jamaica Grande in 2002.
"We have a commuting marriage. The advancement of Jamaica makes
it possible. We are in constant communication."
ONE REGRET
She states "I married late, but my only regret is that my parents
were not able to meet my husband. My mother would always say that everything
happens for a reason. He (Glen) was the right man at the right time.
"I have always had a full existence. I have always had to multitask.
I cared for my parents who passed away from cancer within three years of each
other."
Then, working as a sole practitioner straight out of law school, her hands were
also full. Now that she juggles marriage and multiple careers. Walker-Huntington
is confident that her existence will only become more fulfilling.
Because of technology she says, "I am able to experience the
best of both worlds. I have always tried to find the niche that would allow
me to live in Jamaica and Florida."
She has clearly found it.
