Deon P Green, Gleaner Writer

London, England:

The Jamaica Diaspora, United Kingdom chapter is seeking to engage more youths in the movement, arising from a resolution at the Jamaica Diaspora Conference held in Kingston last year. A preliminary meeting is to be held at the Jamaica High Commission in London on April 13 to form the UK/Jamaica Diaspora youth group.

A joint statement issued by UK/Jamaica Diaspora Board executive members Paulette Simpson and Travis Johnson said: "'We would like to ensure that young persons from across the UK are involved in this process and we are seeking to identify approximately five young persons from various areas across the UK to attend this meeting in April and so far the response has been good."

Celine Markey-Grandison, spokes-person for the Diaspora in the UK, said the reason for arranging the preliminary youth meeting is to bring young persons together to get their views about how they can be more effectively involved in the diaspora.

Bringing them together

"We are bringing them together to discuss the formation of the youth group and their participation in the biannual conference to be held in Birmingham on June 16," she disclosed, while adding that the group being set up is a national one with representatives from the six regions in the UK. Markey-Grandison said regional coordinators will also set up youth groups in their regions for participation in the diaspora activities.

Plans are now at an advanced stage for the second UK/Jamaica Diaspora Conference where over 1,000 persons are expected to attend from across the UK and Europe. The theme of the 2007 conference is "Reflecting on our past, inspiring our Future".