| Prime Minister Opens
First Jamaican Diaspora Conference (JIS)
 Prime
Minister P.J. Patterson on Wednesday (June 16) officially opened
the first Jamaican Diaspora Conference at the Jamaica Conference
Centre in Kingston. Over 250 delegates from the United States of
America, Canada and the United Kingdom are attending the two-day
conference which ends on Thursday.
In his remarks, Mr. Patterson said the conference is part of a
plan to provide further direction to the process of strengthening
linkages and give form and structure to the connection between Jamaicans
at home and abroad. He said the conference would seek to build on
earlier initiatives implemented by the Government to foster a coordinated
approach to the relationship with Jamaicans overseas.
"It provides an invaluable opportunity to develop a practical
and workable process that will enable us to utilize our diverse
skills, energies and collective experiences for the economic, social
and spiritual betterment of all citizens both at home and throughout
the Diaspora," Mr. Patterson said.
The Prime Minister said that Cabinet had given its full support
to the proposals that will be brought before the delegates for discussion.
He stressed that these were not the proposals of the Government,
but rather, that they had been developed in collaboration with stakeholders
in the Diaspora, public and private sector agencies, universities
and the returning residents association.
The proposals cover a wide range of issues including the improvement
in the management and delivery of passport services to Jamaicans
overseas and the proposed establishment of a Jamaica Bond Issue.
The Bond Issue should take the form of a Government secured financial
instrument that would provide reasonable financial returns to Jamaicans
residing overseas who wish to invest in Jamaica.
Delegates are also expected to consider the establishment of a
formal Jamaican Diaspora Foundation, the naming of Trade Consuls
throughout the Diaspora and the establishment of an annual Diaspora
Day.
Several Ministers of Government are expected to address the conference
over the next two days. They include Mr. K.D. Knight, Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Peter Phillips Minister of
National Security and Dr. Paul Robertson, Minister of Development.
Other speakers include Dr. Patricia Holness, CEO of the Registrar
General Department, Ms. Doreen Frankson, President of the Jamaica
Manufacturers Association and Dr. Wesley Hughes, Director General
of the Planning Institute of Jamaica.
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