Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith and Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade with portfolio responsibility for Diaspora Affairs, Senator the Honourable Leslie Campbell extend heartiest congratulations to the newly elected members of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council (GJDYC).
In keenly contested elections across the three major Diaspora locations Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, candidates were elected for membership to the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council and Global Diaspora Youth Council for a three-year tenure, from 2023 –2025.
The electoral process which spanned a four-month period, commenced in October 2022 with a sensitization period, followed by voter registration and nomination of candidates, ending in campaigning and voting. The process was largely run by the Electoral Committees established in each Diaspora location for the purpose of managing the elections. The members of the Electoral Committees were selected by their peers in the Diaspora and operated with full autonomy.
Senator the Honourable Leslie Campbell, expressed the view that “the quality and integrity of the elections were assured by the exemplary conduct of the Electoral Committees who must be commended for their tremendous efforts”. The elections involved multiple stakeholders and attracted the attention of business, community, church and other civil society leaders in the Diaspora. Over three thousand voters participated in the process, and more than twenty candidates vying from across the six electoral regions.
Established in 2019, after being endorsed by the Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference held that year, the GJDC and the GJDYC became operational on 1st January 2020, completing the first term of membership on 31st December 2022. The full membership of the GJDC comprises thirty (30) members, fourteen (14) of whom will be appointed through the electoral process. The membership is also comprised of six regional leaders drawn from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the Caribbean; Europe (excluding the UK); Latin America; the Middle East, one discretionary member and nine sector leaders across Education; Health and Wellness; Arts, Sports and Culture; Citizen Security; Development Issues; Faith-based Community; Environment, Agriculture and Commerce. The full slate of the Council is expected to be completed in the next few days and will be published accordingly.
The activities of both Councils are particularly important in advancing the government’s development agenda, with the Youth Council concentrated on ensuring the development of affinity towards Jamaica amongst the 2nd,3rd and 4th generation Jamaicans.
For the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, the successful candidates are as follows: CANADA – Ms. Rhona Dunwell and Ms. Lisa Rutty; UNITED KINGDOM North – Dr. Kevin Brown; UNITED KINGDOM South – Mr. Nathaniel Peat; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA North East – Mrs. Michelle Tulloch-Neil; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA West Mid-West – Ms. Shauna Chin; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA South – Mr. Peter Gracey.
For the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council, the successful candidates are as follows: UNITED KINGDOM North – Ms. Shermara Fletcher; UNITED KINGDOM South – Ms. Thara Johnson- Reid; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA North East – Ms. Asha Richards; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA West Mid-West – Ms. Vanessa Myrie; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA South – Ms. Renae Miller.
The two Youth Council members for Canada will be appointed through a separate process.
Details on the new members, as well as the elections process are available at https://www.glojamcouncils.com/.
The Ministers expressed appreciation to the former GJDC and GJDYC members, the Electoral Committees; members of the media and the overseas Missions, for their respective roles in promoting and managing the process to its successful conclusion.
