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Gov't Acquiesce to Database of Overseas Nationals (JIS)
Monday, June 21, 2004
The government has accepted a proposal for the establishment of
a database of overseas nationals, which would set out their particular
skills and areas of expertise and for the government to make use
of that database in recruiting persons to undertake specialised
tasks.
The proposal came from Andrea Delvalie, a Jamaican residing in
Toronto, Canada, who was speaking in one of the discussion sessions
held as part of the just concluded Jamaican Diaspora Conference.
She suggested that the information should also be made available
to the missions abroad.
On another matter, Alfred Johnson from the United Caribbean Network
of New Jersey, in the United States (US) called for the institution
of community officers in the missions abroad to deal with concerns
of overseas nationals or advocate on their behalf.
Dennis Smith, who also resides in the US, suggested that the government
go one step further by creating institutions that could link with
Africa and black communities in other parts of the world. "The
Irish do it, the Israelis do it; we have lagged behind and we need
to begin the process," he stated.
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, K.D. Knight supported
the call for institutions linking the black community, noting that
an announcement would be made shortly on initiatives the government
was taking to reach out to Jamaicans abroad. He noted that already,
a Trade Council had been established in the greater Philadelphia
area "and from all indications it will grow from strength to
strength."
In terms of the appointment of community officers to deal with
the concerns of Jamaicans overseas, Mr. Knight said the government
was trying to use the resources in its embassies and consulates
to establish Diaspora desks. He informed that Janet Madden had that
responsibility in the United States and "we expect to expand
on that effort".
The overseas nationals also wanted to know the government's position
in terms of allowing them to participate in the electoral process,
with Michael Thompson, City Councillor in Toronto, asking if there
were any plans to allow Jamaicans to vote in local and general elections.
Overseas nationals are allowed to vote in elections but they have
to cast their ballots in Jamaica.
Minister Knight said that absentee voting might very well take
place "but the electoral process has to mature some more before
we are going to be able to take that on. I have do doubt that it
will happen but not immediately."
He informed further, that very recently, the government started
to canvass Parliamentary support for the institution of a Senatorial
seat to represent the Diaspora "and we will keep you abreast
of developments in that respect".
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