Eddie Grant, Contributor
CANADA:
THE JAMAICAN community abroad is very essential to the Jamaican Government as the remittance sent annually outstrips bauxite, tourism and any other sector you can think of.
That's according to Senator Delano Franklyn, Jamaica's Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, who is also responsible for Jamaicans in the diaspora. He was addressing Jamaicans and other Caribbean nationals at a forum at the Jamaican Canadian Centre last Friday.
Minister Franklyn said although many Jamaicans have lived abroad for many years, they still maintain ties with their homeland, and this is reflected in the billions of dollars they have been investing. As a result, the Government is interested in deepening the relations with Jamaicans abroad.
"We do not see Jamaicans living abroad any different from Jamaicans at home," he said.
Franklyn also said that, in 2004, remittance sent from Jamaicans living abroad amounted to US$1.5 billion (J$97.5 billion). Another J$1 billion was collected from levies added to overseas phone calls. The minister said part of this money would be used to computerise all schools on the island for the education of students.
The meeting, described as a 'verandah-style' rap-session, was hosted by the Jamaican Canadian Association, in conjunction with the Jamaican Diaspora-Canada Foundation.
Minister Franklyn praised the group for its initiative in mobilising Jamaicans in Canada to take an active role in decision-making that will affect their livelihood, both at home and abroad.
During the session, he discussed various topics, including crime, a topic of grave concern to Jamaicans, especially those wishing to return home to visit or live permanently.
"The Government is really doing something about crime. This problem really started about 40 years ago and has now become global in nature," he said. "If someone is killed in London, England, the repercussion can be felt in Mountain View."
He said crime is a problem in Jamaica, but that the Government is trying to crack the network of the underworld crime boss.
