December 3, 2024

To allow for greater inclusivity of Jamaicans living across the globe, the GJDC comprises 30 members, who serve voluntarily. The governance structure of the Council is led and supported by the Chairperson, who is the Minister of State with Responsibility for Diaspora Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; a Vice-Chair, appointed from among the Diaspora; the Under-Secretary for Diaspora, Protocol and Consular Affairs; and the Director of the Diaspora Affairs Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

The GJDC will comprise of 14 elected members from across the Diaspora communities in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America.

The remaining 16 members are appointed from the Diaspora and Jamaica, by the Minister with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, following their election or selection to the Council. There are three categories of appointments: (i) appointments according to regions, (ii) appointments according to sectors and (iii) a discretionary appointment.

Six (6) members are appointed following a selection process from regions not currently represented through the electoral process, namely: Africa; Asia and the Pacific; Latin America; the Caribbean; Europe (excluding the United Kingdom); and the Middle East.

Nine (9) members are appointed through a selection process to join the GJDC according to their respective areas of expertise in: Arts, Sport and Culture; Citizen Security; Commerce; Development Issues; Education; Faith-based Community; Health and Wellness; Agriculture; and Environment. The final member of the Council is a discretionary appointment.

The Governance Structure of the GJDC is guided by the GJDC Terms of Reference.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade extends heartiest congratulations to each member of the GJDC and the GJDYC on their appointments for the 2023-2025 term period. The Government of Jamaica remains committed to this transformative engagement and partnership, and will continue to work with our Diaspora in building on the progress made to optimize this mutual relationship. 

 

ELECTED MEMBERS

Name Contact Information Region/Country
Mrs. Michelle Tulloch-Neil Email: miatull@aol.com USA
North East
Ms. Shauna Chin Email: shaunachin@gmail.com USA
West/Mid-West
Mr. Peter Gracey

Email: petergracey@gmail.com USA
Southern
Ms. Lisa Rutty Email: lisa.rutty@outlook.com Canada
Ms. Rhona Dunwell

Email: rdunwell@rogers.com Canada
Mr. Nathaniel Peat

Email: gjdc@nathanielpeat.com UK
South

 

 

 

REGIONAL MEMBERS

 

Name Contact Info Region
Mr. David Jarrett

Email: consultant@rdjconsulting.co.za Africa
Dr. Stephanie Fletcher-Lartey

Email: stephjewels100@yahoo.com.au Asia & the Pacific
Mr. Glenroy McIntosh Email: caribbeanrepgjdc@gmail.com Caribbean
Mrs. Nicole Little-John

Email: nicolelanguages.cl@gmail.com Latin America
Dr. Ethel Rose de Vrieze-McBean Email: rosemcbean@icloud.com Europe
Mr. Lennox Christie Email: sirlennoxchristie@gmail.com The Middle East
SECTOR-BASED MEMBERS

 

Name Contact Infomation Sector
Dr. Hugh Simmonds Canada

Email: hasimmonds@uwaterloo.ca

Arts, Sport and Culture

Mr. Kevin Junor

Canada

Email: kjunor@rogers.com

Citizen Security
Mr. Shaune Anthony Brown

USA

Email: shauneanthonydbrown@gmail.com

Commerce
Mrs. Elizabeth Mullings-Smith England
UK

Email: mullingssmithe@gmail.com

Development Issues
Mrs. Sandra Colly-Durand, PhD France

Email: gjdceducation@gmail.com

Education
Bishop Dr. Glenford Duffus

Canada

Email: fordville53@outlook.com

Faith-Based Community
Mr. Gary Rhule, MD

USA

Email: gary.rhulex16@icloud.com

Health & Wellness
Dr. Peter Edwards USA
Email: peteretedwards@gmail.com
Environment
Mr. Byron Wills USA
Email: jamaicadirect@gmail.com
wills_byron@yahoo.com
Agriculture
DISCRETIONARY MEMBER

 

Name Contact Infomation Country/Region
Dr. Sylvanus Thompson

Email: thompsonsilvanus7@gmail.com

Toronto, Canada
YOUTH MEMBERS

 

Name Contact Information Region/Country
Ms. Asha J. Richards

Email: ashajrich@gmail.com USA
North East
Ms. Renae Miller

Email: GJDYCSD@outlook.com USA
Southern
Ms. Vanessa Myrie

Email: vmyrie@hotmail.com USA
West/Mid-West
Ms. Samaya Miller Email: samaya.miller3@gmail.com Canada
Ms. Shermara Fletcher Email: shermarafletcher_1@outlook.com UK
North
Mr. Steven Getten Email: stevengetten@gmail.com Canada
Mr. Amani Simpson Email: GJDC@amanisimpson.com UK South