Delano Franklyn (left), Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, converses with Douglas Orane (centre), Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the second Diaspora Conference to be held in Jamaica, and Delrose Montaque, director of the consular and diaspora department in the Ministry. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
JAMAICANS FROM five regions will gather at the Jamaica Conference Centre on June 15 and 16 for the second Jamaican Diaspora Conference.
Details of the two-day event were outlined last week at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel by Senator Delano Franklyn, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Franklyn said over 500 delegates from Africa, Canada, Central America, the United States and the United Kingdom are expected to attend.
He stressed that the conference is not a "mass meeting" but a think-tank of delegates intimately involved with issues impacting the diaspora. These delegates, he said, have been identified by an advisory board and various Jamaican missions abroad.
Mr. Franklyn said the crime situation in Jamaica, a key topic at the inaugural conference two years ago, will again be high on the agenda, so too immigration issues. Establishing economic ties will also get top billing.
"The primary objective of this particular conference is to allow Jamaicans from everywhere to be gathered to network and interact with each other," Mr. Franklyn said. "Also, for us here in Jamaica to get a fuller understanding of the issues faced by Jamaicans overseas and how the administration of the country is dealing with these particular problems."
GraceKennedy's CEO and Chairman Douglas Orane, who returns as chairman of the conference, also spoke at the launch. He said as Jamaicans overseas continue to excel, a diaspora conference is even more significant.
"My personal and business experience is that the diaspora are yearning to strengthen their links to the home country," said Mr. Orane. "Their advance in profes-sions worldwide and accu-mulation of personal wealth makes them increasingly important as potential and actual investors."
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller will open the conference. Bruce Golding, Leader of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, will also speak at the opening session.
