Jamaica’s global community will get an early look at plans for the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference when a hybrid launch event is held in Florida later this month.
The event, hosted by Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s Consul General to Miami, is scheduled for Sunday, March 22 at 5:00 p.m. at Miramar City Hall. It is intended to update Jamaican nationals overseas on preparations for the major conference set for June.
Delivering the keynote address will be Alando Terrelonge, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, who has portfolio responsibility for Diaspora Affairs.
Registration is already open for the conference, which will take place from June 14 to June 18 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. Organisers have designated June 16 as Diaspora Day, which will focus on service initiatives.
Under the theme “Diaspora Partnerships: Rebuilding a more climate-resilient Jamaica,” the conference is expected to bring together Jamaicans from across the globe to explore solutions to national challenges and strengthen ties between the island and its overseas communities.
The biennial event is being coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, which has responsibility for diaspora engagement. This year’s planning committee is chaired by Earl Jarrett, head of the JN Group.
Jarrett has expressed optimism about the upcoming staging, pointing to expectations of strong participation and impactful discussions.
“I am expecting a large turnout at the conference,” he said in an earlier statement, adding that the programme will feature “exciting presentations” and aim to generate solutions to issues affecting Jamaica.
“I am looking forward to a great conference. As you know, the strength of Jamaica is its people, and Jamaicans in the diaspora represents a significant part of Jamaica,” Jarrett added.
More than 1,000 participants attended the last staging, and organisers are aiming to surpass that figure this year.
Terrelonge has also underscored the importance of the gathering, noting that it comes in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa and presents an opportunity for meaningful dialogue and partnership-building over the five-day programme.
Interested participants can register online via the conference’s Eventbrite page.
