FT. LAUDERDALE – Minister of State in Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Dr. Ronald Robinson urged the delegates at the Jamaica Diaspora Inaugural conference to embrace the young people as future leaders in the Jamaica Diaspora, as they are necessary for the sustenance of the movement and the interest of Jamaica.
Speaking to nearly 150 delegates at the closing of the two-day conference at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Dania, Florida, the Minister said that it was important to ensure the existence of our young people, to encourage, protect and nurture them so that they feel a part of the process of the formation of the Jamaican Diaspora.
According to the Minister, there is need for renewal as people move on in the cycle of age. It was therefore necessary, he pointed out, that preparations be made to continue the process of development.
As young people were now actively engaging themselves into meaningful engagement concerning Jamaica’s economic development, Dr. Robinson passionately stated that it was “important that we do not crush their enthusiasm, it is relevant to their future.”
The Minister commended the organizers of the inaugural two-day conference, noting that the enthusiasm and level of commitment displayed during the sessions were indicative of steps in the right direction of the Diaspora in the USA, and it was now coming on par with counterparts in Canada and the United Kingdom who have already initiated steps in organization and leadership.
As the USA Diaspora have now begun to evolve as a movement, the Minister encouraged his audience to continue the process of organizing “so we can achieve” he said, as opportunities were created and foundation built for personal development as well as for nation building.
Referring to the modernization of the Movement, the Minister said that the challenge was applying the use of technology and knowledge effectively to take it to the next level, making those stages of planning relevant to enhancing the welfare of Jamaica and its Diaspora.
The Minister also said that one of the challenges of the Diaspora was the need for an organized administrative structure, making it less dependent on volunteers. He suggested that they look at creative ways for leadership, governance and financial sustainability as part of developing process.
Noting that Jamaicans have contributed to the development of other countries globally, the Minister said that it was important that nationals spend time equally, in the island’s economic recovery, observing that the decrease in number of graduates from the University of the West Indies (UWI) was indicative that the young people were now looking to hope in the future of Jamaica, he added.
While Jamaica boasts one of the more advanced Diaspora movement in the Caribbean region, the Minister said that it was important to look to other areas as models for progress, citing the United Kingdom as an example, where lobby groups with no Diasporic connection were advocating for issues related to Caribbean interest.
Commenting on the successful planning and execution of the two-day summit, Dr. Robinson expressed enthusiastically that “a delicate approach was taken to synchronize and put together all issues pertaining to the cause.” “I was pleased with the proceedings”.
Earlier the program highlighted reports from the several breakout workshops which focused on education, health, investment and trade, community organizing, marketing of Jamaican Diaspora brand message and future leaders engagement.
Dr. Neville Ying of the Jamaica Diaspora Institute briefly remarked that preparatory committees would be in place as early as next week to begin preparations for the next biennial National Diaspora Conference to be held in Kingston in June next year.
Reports emanating from this USA Diaspora Regional conference would form part of the structure and activities of the four-day agenda which is also expected to continue the process of meaningful engagement of Jamaica’s future leaders, while strengthening the process of building networks and enhancing the role of leadership, governance and collaboration of programs for development, he said.
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 Consulates General of Jamaica in Miami and New York, the Jamaican Diaspora Foundation and the Jamaica Diaspora Institute, UWI, Mona.
