FT. LAUDERDALE – Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Anthony Johnson said that Jamaicans must come together and build our country so that on graduation, the young people would be able to grasp opportunities available to them, like those of other countries.
Speaking to delegates at the closing ceremony of the first Jamaica USA Diaspora Regional conference, last Sunday (Oct. 4), in Fort Lauderdale, the Ambassador reiterated that as we continue to develop the infrastructure at home, migration must be seen as an option.
The Ambassador continued that unlike other nationalistic movements like that of Ireland, Israel and India, that were driven by war, Jamaica’s Diasporic movement was driven by economic reasons.
He pointed to areas of the Jamaican economy that were poised for investment, encouraging the delegates to implore those opportunities for the nation’s economic development.
For example, he said that an encouraging aspect is the development of Jamaica’s athletic program as a model for the world. While he commended the outstanding achievements of the athletes, the Ambassador lauded the efforts of the coaches who he said, were critically important to those accomplishments.
For example, the Ambassador challenged his audience to embark on projects to support and improve the facilities in the nation’s sporting arena so that the young people would have opportunities to develop their skills in this regard.
Ambassador Johnson also mentioned other areas for investment focus including health tourism and agriculture as the range of opportunities could provide avenues for economic stability.
Elaborating on the success of the two-day summit of the Jamaica USA Diaspora movement the Ambassador congratulated the architects of the staging of the first conference, emphasizing, “we have work to do, as we move forward.”
Some 150 delegates participated in the conference from Jamaica’s diasporic communities across the United States – the Northeast, Midwest and Southern headed by the three Diaspora Advisory Board representatives, Patrick Beckford, Wayland Richards and Marlon Hill, respectively.
The conference opened on Friday (Oct 2) with a community Reception at the Grand Palm Hotel in Pembroke Pines, South Florida.
The conference was a collaborative effort of the Jamaican Diaspora USA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Embassy of Jamaica, USA; the Jamaican Consulate General of Jamaica in Miami and New York, the Jamaican Diaspora Foundation and the Jamaica Diaspora Institute, UWI, Mona.
Also addressing the Conference were Education Minister, Hon. Andrew Holness, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Dr. Donald Robinson. Other government officials included Jamaica’s Consuls General for the Southern USA and Northeast USA, Mrs. Sandra Grant Griffiths and Mrs. Geneive Brown Metzger, respectively, along with Honorary Consuls across the region.
