Registration open for 11th Biennial Diaspora Conference

Registration for the 11th Biennial Diaspora Conference, set for the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James, is now open.

In a ‘Save the Date’ announcement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, which has jurisdiction for the Jamaican Diaspora, confirmed a previous Gleaner report that the diaspora conference would take place at the convention centre from June 14 to June 18.

June 16 will be recognised as Diaspora Day –a day of service.

In its announcement, the ministry indicated that the theme for this year’s conference will be ‘Diaspora Partnerships: Rebuilding a more climate-resilient Jamaica’.

Alando Terrelonge, minister of state in the foreign affairs ministry, who has portfolio responsibility for Diaspora Affairs, earlier this year, had a planning meeting on the conference. This year’s conference committee is being chaired by Earl Jarrett, head of JN Group.

The conference is held every two years, and this year, conference planners are hoping that participation will surpass the last conference when over 1,000 people attended.

The Gleaner understands that the conference budget is still being formulated but is expected to be funded by a government subvention, funding from legacy partners, sale of exhibition booth spaces as well as other areas of funding.

EXPECTATIONS

In an earlier Facebook post on the planning of the conference, Jarrett said he was looking forward to a great conference.

“I am expecting a large turnout at the conference,” he said.

Jarrett said the conference would include exciting presentations and, hopefully, could find solutions to challenges facing Jamaica.

“I am looking forward to a great conference. As you know, the strength of Jamaica is its people, and Jamaicans in the diaspora represents a significant part of Jamaica,” he said.

The conference is being held post-Melissa, and Terrelonge said he was looking forward to a week of meaningful discussion and partnership.

Newly elected Global Jamaica Diaspora Council member for the US West/Midwest Region Dr Binzie Davidson said he was hoping to have some 100 people attending this year’s conference.

“I have begun outreach across the 25 states that make up our region, hoping to get leaders, both community and business, to attend the conference,” he told The Gleaner.

He also noted that for Diaspora Day, he is hoping to arrange cricket matches in Montego Bay and Westmoreland between Jamaica-based cricketers and diasporan cricketers.

However, he said this was still in the planning stages.

Michelle Tulloch Neil, US Northeast Region diaspora council member, who was re-elected to her position, said she hoped to have 100 -200 people from the northeast attend this year’s conference.

“Already, people have been reaching out about the conference,” she told The Gleaner.

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