Jamaica Diaspora Council elections postponed

Elections for members of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council have been postponed until January next year.

Voting for the council members was slated to run from November 20 until December 13 but a notice issued from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has responsibility for Diaspora affairs, announced the postponement. No specific date was given for when the elections will be held.

The announcement said existing Diaspora Council members will continue in their posts until the elections take place. The current term of the members was set to expire on December 31 this year.

The announcement said that the elections were being postponed because of Hurricane Melissa and the destruction it brought to Jamaica.

There is expected to be at least two changes to the Board composition as the current board member for the United States West/Midwest region, Shauna Chin, will not be running for the position.

“You are only able to run for two consecutive terms and I have served the required period,” she said.

The Gleaner understands that the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council Member for the United States Southern Region, Peter Gracey, will also not be seeking re-election.

Also not expected to seek re-election are the board members for Canada and the United Kingdom

The existing member for the United States Northeast Region, Michelle Tulloch-Neil, has confirmed that she will be seeking re-election to the council.

Already, well-known community activist in the Western Region Dr. Z. Roy Davidson, has thrown his hat in the ring to become the council member for the West/Midwest Region.

“I have already registered and have been nominated for the position,” he told The Gleaner.

There are currently seven elected Diaspora Council members – three from the United States, two from Canada and two from the United Kingdom.

This election cycle, apart from the seven Global Diaspora Council members who will be elected, the seven regional chairs of the Global Diaspora Youth Council will also be elected.

The Global Jamaica Diaspora Council members act as an advisory body to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

- Lester Hinds

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