The process for the election of members to the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council (GJDYC) for the 2026–2028 term has been activated.
This will be the third cycle of elections to the Councils, the first of which was held in 2019 for the period 2020 to 2022; the second which was held in 2022 for the term 2023 to 2025.
The third cycle of elections will take place from January to February 2026 for the 2026–2028 term, following an extension caused by Hurricane Melissa.
The election process follows the outlined timeline and will conclude in February 2026.
Elections will take place in the three (3) major Diaspora locations: The United Kingdom (UK), Canada and the United States of America (USA).
The election provides an opportunity for members of the Diaspora in those regions to select their representatives for the GJDC and GJDYC.
The fourteen (14) elected members, seven (7) from the GJDC and seven (7) from the GJDYC, form part of the broader Council membership of 30 individuals, which also includes six (6) regional members, nine (9) sector-based members and one (1) discretionary member.
The Councils were established to strengthen Diaspora engagement mechanism and increase the affinity and connection of young Diasporans; specifically, the second, third and fourth generations.
The new Council is scheduled to be installed by March 2026.
Electoral Architecture
Electoral Committees are established in the three (3) main Diaspora regions (UK, USA and Canada) and the Committees are responsible for managing the elections process, as stipulated in the election guidelines.
The Missions and the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade provide guidance, technical support and the development and dissemination of promotional material on the elections.
Members of the committees consist of active members of the Diaspora who are of good character and in good standing with the respective Diaspora communities in which the election will take place.
According to the Election Process Guidelines, the election timeline is designated to begin at least three (3) months prior to the commencement of the new Council term, to allow for a seamless transition between the outgoing and incoming members.
Execution
The elections will be conducted through an online portal, ConnectMeJA, designed to facilitate simultaneous voting across all three (3) electoral regions.
The process will be standardized across all locations, utilizing an online portal as done on previous occasions.
The convening of five (5) independent Electoral Committees across the voting regions are tasked with the responsibility to initiate, coordinate and manage the sensitization period, nomination, voter registration and voting processes.
The five (5) Electoral Committees will conduct the elections in the following jurisdictions:
● United States of America comprising the following three (3) regions and their respective States:
○ North East Electoral Committee: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia
○ Southern Electoral Committee: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas
a. Candidates shall provide verifiable evidence of their Jamaican identity and/or descent. Such evidence must be sufficient to reasonably establish eligibility and authenticity for participation in the Councils.
b. Candidates shall be at least 21 years of age to serve on the GJDC.
c. Candidates shall be persons of good character and repute, maintaining good standing in their communities and professional life. Conduct that may reasonably be viewed as bringing the Council or the Government of Jamaica into disrepute shall constitute grounds for ineligibility or removal.
d. Candidates shall demonstrate a willingness to cooperate, in good faith, with the Government of Jamaica and with fellow Council members, irrespective of personal political affiliation, in order to advance the objectives of Diaspora engagement.
e. Candidates shall commit to promoting the goodwill of Jamaicans globally and to safeguarding the positive reputation of Jamaica and the integrity of Brand Jamaica across the Diaspora.
f. Candidates must have had no criminal convictions imposed on them by any court whether in Jamaica or abroad.
g. Candidates must have never been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt by any court or financial institution.
h. Candidates must have no pending litigation proceedings against them whether in Jamaica or abroad.
i. Candidates shall be willing to collaborate with the Ministry with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs and Jamaica’s overseas Missions, as well as Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Government of Jamaica, and other duly recognised Diaspora bodies, to strengthen relations across all relevant sectors.
j. Candidates must possess expertise/experience in a sector identified pursuant to section 2(III)(b); and be either properly resident in a Diaspora region identified in section 2(III)(a)(i) or in respect of sector based representation in Jamaica.
k. Individuals whose actions or intentions are reasonably determined to be inconsistent with the objectives of the Council, or whose participation would compromise its credibility, effectiveness or lawful operations, shall be deemed ineligible for membership or subject to removal.
GJDC Eligibility Criteria
a. Candidates shall provide verifiable evidence of their Jamaican identity and/or descent. Such evidence must be sufficient to reasonably establish eligibility and authenticity for participation in the Councils.
b. To serve on the GJDYC, candidates must be between the age of 18 to 35.
c. Candidates shall be persons of good character and repute, maintaining good standing in their communities and professional life. Conduct that may reasonably be viewed as bringing the Council or the Government of Jamaica into disrepute shall constitute grounds for ineligibility or removal.
d. Candidates shall demonstrate a willingness to cooperate, in good faith, with the Government of Jamaica and with fellow Council members, irrespective of personal political affiliation, in order to advance the objectives of Diaspora engagement.
e. Candidates shall commit to promoting the goodwill of Jamaicans globally and to safeguarding the positive reputation of Jamaica and the integrity of Brand Jamaica across the Diaspora. For the purpose of determining if a person satisfies this criteria, as well as the stated criteria in item (c ) above, a person shall be eligible for election only if he/she:
f. has had no criminal convictions imposed on him/her by any court whetherin Jamaica or abroad;
g. has never been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt by any court or financial institution;
h. has no pending litigation proceedings against him/her whether in Jamaica or abroad.
i. Candidates shall be willing to collaborate with the Ministry with responsibility
for Diaspora Affairs and Jamaica’s overseas Missions, as well as Ministries,
Departments and Agencies of the Government of Jamaica, and other duly
recognised Diaspora bodies, to strengthen relations across all relevant sectors.
j. Candidates must possess expertise/experience in a sector identified
pursuant to section 2(III) (b); and be either properly resident in a Diaspora
region identified in section 2(III) (a)(i) or in respect of sector-based
representation in Jamaica.
k. Individuals whose actions or intentions are reasonably determined to be
inconsistent with the objectives of the Council, or whose participation
would compromise its credibility, effectiveness or lawful operations, shall be
deemed ineligible for membership or subject to removal.
Region Territories
Region Territories
Region
Territories
CANADA
All
UNITED KINGDOM – NORTH
North East, North West, East Midlands, West Midlands, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man
UNITED KINGDOM – SOUTH
London, South East, South West, Wales, Isle of Wight, Bailiwick of Jersey, Guernsey and Sark, Isles of Scilly
USA – NORTHEAST
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia
USA – SOUTH
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas
