ORLANDO – Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith was in Orlando for the Jamaica Diaspora Conference Southern USA Summit and Gala June 24-26.
The theme for the conference, “Providing a Roadmap to Power and Influence – Recognizing our achievement in Diaspora…Building on Our Legacy” was convened by the Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board Member for the Southern United States, Wayne C. Golding, Sr.. Esq.
The Minister was the keynote speaker at the Symposium which looked at protocols and mechanisms for improved partnership between Jamaica and the Diaspora during several interactive discussion groups.
The Minister also met with first and second generation Jamaicans, who shared their passion to actively participate in Jamaica’s national development through Diaspora activities.
More than 100 participants participated in the Summit which included a cross-section of nationals and friends of the Diaspora representing the media, community leaders from public and private sector offices, political offices, faith-based groups, alumni and varying community associations, and those representing culture, sports and entertainment.
The Consulate General of Jamaica, Miami partnered with several agencies including the Registrar General Department (RGD) and the National Land Agency (NLA) to provide outreach services in the areas of consular services, passport and citizenship applications, returning residents (JA), land/title information (JA), and birth/marriage/death registration information.
Several Jamaican nationals across the Southern USA were awarded at the Gala for their outstanding contributions to Jamaica’s national development and their communities in the Diaspora, through professional and volunteer roles.
L-R: Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board Member for the Southern United States, Wayne C. Golding, Sr.. Esq., and Ambassador Sharon Saunders (second left) Director of Diaspora Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kingston. To the extreme right are Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith ( second right front row) who was keynote speaker, and Jamaica’s Consul General, Franz Hall (right front).
