On Friday, April 4, members of the Jamaican diaspora in South Florida filled the pews of ChristWay Baptist Church in Miramar for An Evening with the Prime Minister – Diaspora Forum, hosted by the Consulate General of Jamaica. The event featured a keynote address by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and brought together community leaders, local dignitaries, and diaspora supporters for an open dialogue on Jamaica’s progress and the pivotal role of Jamaicans living abroad.
The evening opened with remarks from Judge Norman Hemming, Consul General Oliver Mair, and Paul Elliot, CEO of VM Building Society — the event’s key sponsor. In a moment symbolizing the deep ties between Jamaica and Miramar, Mayor Wayne Messam presented Prime Minister Holness with the key to the city.
‘The diaspora didn’t fail us,’ says PM Holness
Throughout his address, Prime Minister Holness emphasized the country’s economic turnaround and the important contributions of the diaspora — not only in remittances but also in advocacy, logistics, and grassroots support.
“Let me thank the diaspora — because the diaspora didn’t fail us,” Holness said. “There’s a view that the diaspora is important only because of remittances — well, that’s not true. Yes, remittances matter; it’s a system of social welfare that’s not run by the state. You take care of the people we may miss — your close relatives and even people in your communities. But the diaspora is also the repository of incredible skills and para-diplomacy connections.
When ventilators and medical supplies were needed during the pandemic, it was members of the diaspora who were calling to say, ‘I have this — how do I get it home?’ When Jamaicans were stranded, it was you who stepped in and ensured they could survive. Many of you helped children with tablets — not pills, now — but computers and devices so they could continue their education. The diaspora is an incredible resource.”
Jamaica at a turning point
Holness described Jamaica as being at “an inflection point,” where years of fiscal reform and economic discipline are starting to yield visible results. He highlighted Jamaica’s recent sovereign credit rating, noting that while it still sits three notches below investment grade, the country now outperforms its peer group in governance and economic management.
But he also acknowledged disparities in how progress is felt.
“Progress is being made, but there is the displacement of progress,” he said. “As things get better, there are people looking on saying, ‘It’s not getting better for me.’ And if people don’t feel they are part of the progress, they will try to change it.”
Holness elaborated on what he called a “paradox of progress” — where national improvements don’t always translate to immediate change for all citizens.
“No other administration has spent the budget that we have spent on the maintenance of roads in Jamaica,” he declared to applause. “And yet, there is still this paradox… people feel that they are not included.”
He likened Jamaica’s current state to a cocoon in the process of becoming a butterfly: “Whilst we are in that cocoon, it’s an uncomfortable period… and there are persons who will feel that they are not a part of the transformation.”
An appeal to Jamaicans across the diaspora
Appealing directly to the diaspora, Holness said, “What I’m enlisting you to do this afternoon is to explain what I have said to you to your family back in Jamaica… because you easily relate to what I have said. You have to live that experience here every day.”
He drew a comparison between well-funded U.S. cities and under-resourced Jamaican municipalities: “What happens to the cities here that can’t maintain the roads and have potholes? What happens? People leave. And that is what has happened to Jamaica.”
Urging informed civic responsibility, he added, “Whatever you vote for, and whoever you vote for — make sure you are voting for the maintenance of good economic management… Vote for the best interest of Jamaica.”
Holness reiterated the vision of economic independence for all Jamaicans, promising a future where “every Jamaican will have employment with income — good income — to afford a quality of life equal to any other country in the world.”
New program for the underserved
Recognizing that not everyone has felt the effects of growth, Holness introduced the government’s upcoming “Solidarity Program”, designed to reach Jamaicans who may have missed out on earlier government support.
“We know that there are people in Jamaica who have not benefited from any of the COVID grants… not one Jamaican civil servant or public sector worker was laid off during COVID, and no salaries were cut. Good economic management does that,” he said.
“We stand with you,” he told Jamaicans who’ve yet to feel the country’s upward trajectory. “We are going to structure a program to make sure that we get to you too. Because the growth that we are trying to achieve is inclusive and equitable.”
Addressing crime and public safety
On the issue of national security, Holness tackled Jamaica’s persistently high crime rate, particularly gang-related violence. He cited that 70% of murders in Jamaica are gang-related, and emphasized that if gang violence were eradicated, the country’s murder rate would fall below the regional average.
Encouragingly, he reported that the murder rate is already trending downward, with 2024 ending nearly 20% below the previous year and 2025 so far showing a further 35% reduction.
He urged attendees to take the message of progress back to their families in Jamaica.
“You easily relate to what I’ve said, because you live that experience here every day,” he said. “Whatever color you prefer, whichever household you grew up in, or whoever is your favorite leader — vote for the best interest of Jamaica.”
The event fostered a spirit of reflection and pride among diaspora members, who were reminded of their enduring impact on the island’s social and economic transformation. As Holness noted, the diaspora is not on the periphery of Jamaica’s story — it is central to the nation’s ongoing journey.
