Contributed
Denis Kingsley (left), Canadian high commissioner to Jamaica, is in keen conversation with Earl Jarrett, chairman of the diaspora summit preparatory committee. The men are discussing their country's respective roles in the 2008 Diaspora Conference held June 16-17.

JAMAICANS IN the diaspora has been hailed by Earl Jarrett, chairman of the diaspora summit preparatory committee as "a mighty force" in the country's development, leading to the fostering of everlasting relationships. The country comparatively boasts one of the world's largest diaspora community, with some 2.6 million people living overseas.

"Jamaicans in the diaspora represent a valuable resource base in intellectual, technical, scientific, economic trade and entrepreneurial excellence, but we do not only regard them as a source of potential economic benefit to the country," Jarrett, who is the general manager of Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), told participants at the Third Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Kingston last week. The conference was held under the theme, 'A Borderless Partnership for Development.'

Issues

More than 700 Jamaicans in the diaspora converged on the Jamaica conference centre to reach consensus on issues such as Jamaica's global profile, support for education initiatives, crime and violence and the establishment of a National Diaspora Foundation that would continue the dialogue after the conference.

Jamaicans living in South Africa and Cuba were represented for the first time at this year's conference, with the largest contingents coming from the United Kingdom, USA and Canada.

Not brain drain, but gain

Jarrett said 'this conference is the best way the private sector and the government can work together to position influential members of the diaspora as a solid development and intellectual bridge.'

He added: "Based on our discourse and collective achievements, what was once seen as a brain drain on our society can become a proactive brain bank, from which our people locally and internationally can glean meaningful progressive support."

The two-day conference was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade with the financial support of private sector entities such as JNBS, Victoria Mutual Building Society, Grace Kennedy Limited, Capital and Credit Merchant Bank, as well as J. Wray and Nephew.