- RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Reverend Dr. Dennis Grant (left), a former policeman and member of the Jamaican Diaspora from Fort Lauderdale in the United States, presents a cheque for J$800,000 to Police Federation Chairman Corporal Raymond Wilson (right) during the second Jamaica Diaspora Conference at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston yesterday. The cheque is to be used to assist Constable Cecil Bond, who sustained spinal injuries in an accident in 2002 and was recently featured in The Gleaner. Looking on are Opposition spokesman on tourism Edmund Bartlett (second left); Senator Anthony Hylton, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; and Ricardo Allicock, representative of the U.S. Consulate. Ross Sheil and Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporters
THE JAMAICAN Diaspora is calling for a united front in tackling issues affecting the nation, including what it believes are the 'irrational' policies of developed countries to limit migration from the Caribbean and other developing countries.
Harold Mignott, chairman of the North East U.S. Diaspora Advisory Board, told The Gleaner yesterday that he wanted persons in the diaspora to work together to find solutions to the problems affecting Jamaica.
"We need to have a collective diaspora to make this thing work," Mr. Mignott said on the final day of the two-day Diaspora Conference held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.
A total of 23 resolutions dealing with education, crime and the establishment of a Jamaica Diaspora Fund, among other issues, were passed as the curtains came down on the bi-annual Diaspora Conference last night.
RESOLUTION ON CRIME
According to Senator Delano Franklyn, State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the resolution on crime will invite relevant members of the Jamaican Diaspora to contribute to the Government's efforts in the area of expertise.
Senator Franklyn said the advisory board, which saw five of its former members returned and two new members added, will meet today to deliberate on the resolutions passed and the way forward for the next two years.
Anthony Hylton, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, told delegates that the Caribbean Community would continue to lobby on behalf of its nationals for freer movement of labour, a position that would be strengthened by feedback and support from the diaspora. The Diaspora Foundation has already formed lobby groups in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada; where most of the diaspora live.
