JAMAICAN GOVERNMENT INTENSIFIES DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS

The Jamaican government through the Diaspora Engagement Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, has in recent months moved decisively to address several areas of concern to Jamaicans overseas.

Chief among these is the issue of citizen security which was highlighted earlier in the year by a number of incidents in which returning residents were the targets of violent crimes. Working in collaboration with the Ministry of National Security and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Ministry’s Diaspora Unit established a Returning Residents Task Force which has since developed and published Safety and Security Handbook which is being distributed to Jamaican communities overseas through various networks

This is one of the practical measures outlined by Senator the Hon Pearnel Charles Jr. during a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade held to brief the media on the activities of the Ministry in recent months. Senator Charles is the Minister of State with portfolio responsibility for Diaspora Affairs in the Ministry.

Another issue which Minister Charles is addressing frontally is the complaint by entrepreneurs and philanthropic groups wishing to make donations to various charities in Jamaica, of the bureaucratic hurdles they have to overcome in getting equipment, supplies and donations cleared on arrival in the country. To address the problem, a communication strategy is currently being developed in partnership with the Jamaica Customs Agency to guide individuals and groups within the Jamaican diaspora on the procedures and processes required for smooth hassle-free importation of donated items.

Mr. Charles explained that the above was not being done piecemeal or in a vacuum but within the framework of an overall Diaspora policy which the Ministry was engaged in developing with the assistance of the Planning Institute of Jamaica. In that regard he made reference to his participation in the upcoming Jamaica Diaspora USA Leadership Summit in Atlanta, Georgia at which discussion of the diaspora policy will be high on the conference agenda.

Starting with the UK Diaspora organization whom he joined at their conference in Leeds England June, Minister Charles has been meeting with the major demographic concentrations of Jamaicans overseas and in July he participated in the Diaspora Canada Conference in Toronto. The Jamaican Diaspora in Canada has this year stepped up its support for the upgrading of early childhood institutions in Jamaica most notably through the Toronto Carpenters Union which has a number of Jamaicans among its members. In addition to a cash donation of C$10,000, the Union has built two Basic Schools in Trelawny and Portland in collaboration with the Jamaican Consulate General, Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation and Food For the Poor Canada.