Alsion Roach-Wilson, who rose from homelessness to lead Jamaica’s diplomatic mission in New York, has died

Jamaica’s diplomatic community is mourning the passing of Alsion Roach-Wilson, Consul General to New York, who died on Saturday at her home.

She had been battling breast cancer

Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith confirmed her passing, describing her as a dedicated public servant whose “accomplishments defied the time during which she served.”

She said the former diplomat served Jamaica “at the highest level of excellence” since her appointment in July 2019.

"Everyone who has worked with her or simply met her also knew unequivocally that she was also a warm and generous human being who exemplified professionalism, loyalty to country and friendship to the world," the minister said in a statement.

In August, Roach-Wilson was conferred with the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) for her contribution to national development in education, technology, and healthcare capacity building. She was previously awarded the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) in 2019 for her philanthropic work.

Roach-Wilson is survived by her husband Omar and children Brian, Vanessa, and Patrick.

The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has joined in mourning the passing Roach-Wilson, hailing her for her "commitment to country".

"The PNP recognises her professionalism, loyalty, and dedication towards country and friends. We join in mourning the loss of this dedicated public servant and extend heartfelt sympathies to her family, including her husband and children as well as those she worked with," it said.

From homeless to Wall Street to Jamaica’s diplomatic mission in New York

Born in Redwood, St Catherine, Roach-Wilson told The Gleaner in 2024 that her life story was one of perseverance and triumph. She attended Redwood Primary School and Guys Hill Secondary (High) School, graduating early before migrating to the United States in 1980 to join her parents in Brooklyn, New York.

She later attended Erasmus Hall High School, but her path was far from smooth. After a disagreement with her mother over her career goals, she said she was left homeless and spent more than a year at Convenant House, a shelter for displaced youth in Manhattan.

“My mother wanted me to become a nurse, but I was more interested in business and finance so with my guidance counsellor it was decided that I should pursue the career path that I love,” she told The Gleaner in March last year.

From Covenant, Roach-Wilson pursued studies in business, accounting, and finance at the American Business Institute. She later landed her an entry-level position in the mailroom at Morgan Stanley, an American multinational investment bank and financial services company, where she quickly advanced to the mortgage desk handling profit and loss operations.

She went on to build a career on Wall Street, working with Kidder Peabody, Moody’s Investment/Dunn & Bradstreet, HSBC, and Bear Stearns, where she spent more than a decade in the capital markets division focusing on emerging economies, including Jamaica.

Roach-Wilson co-founded the Alsion Road Group, a financial consultancy that worked with global firms and regional governments. She also pioneered the idea of a Diaspora Bond for Jamaica, inspired by successful models in India.

After turning down an offer in 2016, she was re-approached and in 2019, Roach-Wilson was appointed Consul General of Jamaica to New York, overseeing the largest diplomatic jurisdiction in the country’s network - encompassing 33 US states, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda. Her tenure focused on investment promotion, cultural exchange, and deepening ties between Jamaica and its diaspora communities.

“There is so much more to be accomplished both for Jamaica and the Diaspora and I am determined to ensure that such accomplishments become a reality,” she said in last year's interview.

The interview was part of the Gleaner's feature marking Women's History Month and Roach-Wilson said she hoped her story will inspire young women to realise that despite their roots they can rise to the top of their profession.

“In the symphony of progress, every woman’s voice is a unique note of courage, weaving strength into a melody of change,” she said. “Let us remember that our actions, however small they may seem, are powerful chords in the harmonisation of equality, diversity and empowerment that can inspire generations to come."

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