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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and members of the Diaspora Advisory Board have mutually agreed on the execution of a comprehensive consultation process towards the refinement of the draft National Diaspora Policy.

Following a high level meeting on Monday, January 7, chaired by the Minister of State, Senator the Honourable Pearnel Charles Jr, along with the Under Secretary, Diaspora Protocol and Consular Affairs Division, staff of the Diaspora Affairs Department and the Diaspora Advisory Board, the State Minister confirmed that the draft National Diaspora Policy is currently being refined and in short order will be disseminated and deliberated on through a consultative process which has been unanimously agreed by all members of the Diaspora Advisory Board.       

According to Minister Charles Jr. “In order to gain full traction and maintain the maximum benefits from participation, the Diaspora Policy consultation process should be inclusive, transparent, varied and expansive.”  The State Minister in speaking with the Advisory Board said, “Part of the Ministry’s plan to structure the consultation process is dependent on the ideas and recommendations tabled by you, the members of Board and this I believe will lead to an effective consultation process.”

He underscored that the Diaspora Policy must embrace a multiplicity of sectors and critical stakeholders and must include Former Ministers and State Minister’s of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, current and former members of the Diaspora Advisory Board, the network of Diaspora Organisations worldwide, Academia and Jamaica’s Diplomatic and Consular Missions overseas

The Minister expressed the hope that the draft National Diaspora Policy will be presented to Cabinet early this year.

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