Judgement Day

Harold Camping, an American Christian radio- show host, predicts that Judgement Day will descend on us this Saturday, May 21. If Mr Camping is right, on Saturday, just as many of us are tuning in to NBA play-off basketball, a new movie, or, in LA Lewis' case, settling in for a spot of tea with the Queen, the world, as we know it, will end.

Mr Camping, an engineer by trade, used a series of complex mathematical formulae to determine the precise date of Jesus' second coming. I hope these aren't the same methods used by Audley Shaw in formulating the Budget - if so, we may truly be doomed. Indeed, Mr Camping made a similar prediction in 1994 that proved incorrect. He later confessed that the miscalculation was a result of errors in his formula - at least he's more forthcoming than our former finance minister.

It would be unwise of us to simply dismiss Mr Camping's doomsday warnings since scripture may well support them. If the congregation would please turn with me to Matthew 24:6 (look up when you've found it), you will notice the passage states that as the end time draws near, the world will be plagued by wars and rumours of wars. We are indeed seeing this phenomenon unfold.

Wars and Rumours of Wars

We know of the war in Afghanistan and the conflict in Libya, but another heated global clash is brewing between the Diaspora Advisory Board and Jamaica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The skirmish was sparked by an alleged lack of consultation between the ministry and the board in planning the upcoming Diaspora Convention in Ocho Rios in June. Some members have also alleged that, by switching to a selection process from the current election format, the ministry is seeking to politicise the manner in which board members are chosen. For its part, the ministry denies any impropriety - going as far as dispatching Minister of State, Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte, on a come-to-Jesus mission across the diaspora.

The entire brouhaha leaves me - and others - asking a deep and profound question: "Who cares?"

What exactly is the purpose of the Diaspora Board? I have never heard any Jamaican, anywhere, ever utter words resembling: "Wow! Did you hear the excellent proposals emanating from the Jamaican Diaspora Board? I'm so glad to have a forceful and respected organisation promoting my interests in Jamaica."

Actually, I wouldn't mind if someone also explained the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' purpose. After their representatives bumbled through the Manatt commission of enquiry, I was left with the distinct impression that the ministry simply exists to schedule diplomats' travels and deliver correspondence between governments.

Diaspora Not Cohesive

I appreciate the importance of remittances to the Jamaican economy - a leading foreign-exchange earner, contributing US$2 billion and nearly 20 per cent of GDP. While this capital inflow is critical, the political importance of the remitters - by no means a cohesive group acting collectively in the best interests of Jamaica - is vastly overstated. The Jamaican diaspora is hardly organised along ideological or philosophical lines. Its principal financial contribution consists of activities such as Glenbert in London sending money to Mama in Brown's Town, or Suzie in Brooklyn supplementing her brother's income in Kingston. Ultimately, neither Glenbert nor Suzie's decisions to remit monies to their beloved families will be impacted by proceedings at the Diaspora Convention.

Perhaps the Advisory Board might prove more useful to Jamaica were it to retool as an interest group - lobbying respective foreign governments on behalf of Jamaicans. The American Israel Political Affairs Committee - one of America's most powerful interest groups, consisting of a broad-based membership of Israeli-Americans from across the US political spectrum - spends millions each year lobbying the US government for the advancement of the Israeli agenda.

A group of this nature would be far more useful to Jamaicans - at home and abroad - than the bickering bunch which now represents our interests. Of course, any such entity would require a unified collection of Jamaicans energetically working together, committing substantial resources, and articulating inventive ideas for the greater good of our fair nation.

But alas, such unity, camaraderie and productivity would be the clearest sign yet that the end draws nigh.

Din Duggan is an attorney who now works as a consultant with a global legal search firm. Email him at columns@gleanerjm.com or dinduggan@gmail.com, or follow him at facebook.com/dinduggan and twitter.com/YoungDuggan.