Caption: From left to right- Permanent Secretary in the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Sheila Sealy Monteith, State Minister with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs, Sen. the Hon. Leslie Campbell and Under-Secretary for the Diaspora, Protocol and Consular Affairs Division, Mrs. Marsha Coore-Lobban during the inaugural meeting of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council (GJDYC) on Thursday, April 13.
The newly appointed Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and its youth arm, the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council (GJDYC), had its inaugural (virtual) meeting on April 13. The first meeting of the 2023-2025 term, was chaired by Senator the Hon. Leslie Campbell, Minister of State, with Responsibility for Diaspora Affairs.
With new and returning members, the Councils will benefit from added insights and institutional memory, while deepening synergies across the Jamaican Diaspora, Jamaica’s Overseas Missions, along with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, to be galvanised through a whole-of-government approach.
In his address, Minister Campbell stated that the Councils were created “as mechanisms of engagement, with the primary responsibility of supporting the realization of the goals of the National Diaspora Policy”, which has now been passed as a White Paper in Parliament. The Minister continued, “The overall objective of the GJDC is outlined under four broad areas: “supporting policy development and execution; increased trade and investments, economic development and promoting brand Jamaica; and just as importantly, the well-being of Jamaicans in the Diaspora; in addition to fostering socio-economic engagement, philanthropy and affinity.”
The Councils represent an expanded and more inclusive Diaspora, with members located in Africa; Asia and the Pacific; the Caribbean; Europe; Latin America; and the Middle East. The GJDC also includes sector-based members in the following areas: Arts, Sport and Culture; Citizen Security; Commerce; Development Issues; Education; Faith-based Community; Health and Wellness; Agriculture; and Environment.
The work of the Councils remains important in the post COVID-19 era as the Ministry seeks to re-energize the Diaspora partnership with a view to achieving greater levels of sustainable development for Jamaica and promoting the welfare of the Jamaican Diaspora wherever they reside.
Successive meetings will focus on the official launching of the Councils and the programme of work, with keen focus on lessons learnt from the experiences of the first term.
The list of appointed Council members is available on the Ministry’s webpage.
