BEAT

THE 6 BIENNIALJAMAICA DIASPORACONFERENCE

THE NEWDIASPORA

TECHNOLOGYTASK FORCE

INVOLUNTARYRETURNEESBACK HOME

PROJECT CALICO

Updates onEducation

Agriculture

FEBRUARY 2016 | ISSUE 02

JIS PHOTO: JAMAICA DIASPORA CONFERENCE 2015

DIASPORA

Health

UPDATES ON JAMAICA/DIASPORA PARTNERSHIP

th

Dear Readers,

The Diaspora and Consular Affairs Department (DCAD) of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade seeks to fulfill itsmandate of maintaining fluid communications betweenJamaica and its Diaspora. This bi-monthly publication of is one such medium and we welcome yourcontributions that will enrich the publication.

Our vision is for a vibrant, diverse global Jamaican community,connected to Jamaica and to each other.

I look forward to deepening our relationship and take thisopportunity to introduce the DCAD team to you.

DIASPORABEAT

FROM THEDIRECTOR'S DESK

Director, Diaspora & Consular Affairs Departmentdca@mfaft.gov.jm

Diaspora and Consular Affairs Department from L- R (standing),Dahlia Gillings McBean, Lincoln Downer, Ambassador SharonSaunders, Hanniff Miller, Mellisa Ottey, (seated) Tracey Blackwood,Ann-Marie Reid and Denise Donaldson

The Diaspora and Consular Affairs Department (DCAD) ismandated to develop and strengthen linkages andmechanisms with the Jamaican Diaspora, thereby buildingrelationships and encouraging participation in all aspects ofnational development.

The Department is engaged in activities, companionprogrammes and projects which facilitate the integrationand contribution of our Diaspora in nation building, intandem also with the development and towards theimplementation of a comprehensive National DiasporaPolicy. The Biennial Diaspora Conferences are planned andexecuted by DCAD in partnership with stakeholders in thepublic and private sector.

DCAD provides numerous essential consular services to awide range of clients locally and overseas. The Departmentoffers support and guidance on all consular processes,including the supervision and coordination of the deliveryof consular services by our Embassies, High Commissions,Consulates General and Honorary Consul network globally.

By way of example, thousands of applications for passportsand citizenship, matters relating to visas, authenticationsand certifications of official documents (birth, marriage,death, divorce, diplomas, degrees) and Police Certificatesare dealt with annually by and through DCAD.

We intervene daily on behalf of members of the public inJamaica and abroad on multiple issues, including childmaintenance orders, overseas pensions, repatriation ofhuman remains and the welfare of incarcerated anddistressed nationals overseas and facilitate the repatriationof Jamaican and foreign nationals rescued at sea.

A M B A S S A D O R S H A R O N S A U N D E R S

Meet the DCAD Team

"The work of DCAD is trulypeople-centred and impactsthe lives of millions ofJamaicans globally."

FEB

RU

AR

Y 2

016

| IS

SUE

02

0201

SOME UPDATES DIASPORA CONFERENCE REAPS SUCCESSTeam Jamaica Bickle

donates defibrillatorsto rural schools

Five automated externaldefibrillators were donated byTeam Jamaica Bickle Inc., anon-profit corporation basedin New York which provideshospitality to Jamaican athletesat Penn Relays, valued at

US$7, 500, to Cornwall College, Clarendon High, G.C. Foster College, Green Island High, Petersfield Highand Vere Technical High.

MoU signedbetween MSMEAlliance & CENUK

MarketPlace andMarketPLace Live ahit

A Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU)between the Micro Smalland Medium EnterprisesAlliance and CaribbeanEnterprise Network(CENUK) based in the UK

MarketPlace, theConference exposition, wasover-subscribed, while thenew offering of MarketPlaceLive, performances ofcultural pieces, waswell received.

The 6 Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference returned to the MontegoBay Convention Centre during the period 13 - 18 June 2015 underthe theme “Jamaica and the Diaspora: Linking for Growth andProsperity”. The feedback was extremely positive and a number ofrepeat participants from the Diaspora praised the high quality ofConference 2015, which attracted 2,147 participants, up from the 2013Conference figure of 1,512.

Conference 2015 also succeeded in widening the net of countries fromwhich delegates travel. In addition to attendees from the United Statesof America, United Kingdom and Canada, 2015 year saw Diasporamembers from The Bahamas, Belgium and Sudan participating.

Covering plenary and concurrent sessions under a range of topics,such as Tourism & Entertainment; Information and CommunicationsTechnology (ICT); Cultural and Creative Industries; Business Trade andInitiatives for Engaging 2nd, 3rd and 4th Generation DiasporaMembers, Conference 2015 gave credence to the vision that successfulDiaspora engagement is an important aspect of a nation’sdevelopment.

There was an expanded MarketPlace which showcased approximately96 Exhibitors, inclusive of the Government at Your Service featurewhere Government Agencies offered express services to ConferenceParticipants. There was also a Live entertainment component to theMarketPlace, which provided attendees with a daily nostalgic taste ofJamaican culture.

was signed at the Conference. The MoU coversinformation sharing in areas such as investment andtraining opportunities as well as initiatives forupscaling MSME’s in Jamaica.

Camp SummerPlus Launched

Spearheaded by theJamaica DiasporaEducation Task Force,the Camp wassponsored by USAID tothe tune of US$250,000,in-kind contribution of

US$89,850 from the Diaspora and in-kind contributionof US$120,988 from the Ministry of Education. TheCamp was held successfully at the College ofAgriculture, Science and Education; Sam SharpeTeachers’ College; and Cedar Grove Academy. Thereare plans for another in 2016.

DIASPORABEAT

FEB

RU

AR

Y 2

016

| IS

SUE

02

thth th

02

An Inaugural Symposium onImmigration and Deportation was included in Conference 2015,organised through the Ministry ofNational Security. The Symposiumbrought together local and overseaspolicymakers and practitioners toshare perspectives on threethemes: Impact of Immigration Lawson the Diaspora; Deportation andReintegration of Involuntary Migrants(Deported Persons) to Jamaica; Crime,Security and the Jamaican Diaspora.

The National Association of Jamaican andSupportive Organizations’ (NAJASO) Help JAMedical Mission team conducted its mostrecent medical mission to JamaicaSeptember 9-20, 2015, serving more than2000 residents in Red Pond, Point Hill,Kitson Town, Central Village and nearbylocations in St. Catherine. The New Jersey-based organization has been providing freequality health care services in Jamaica forthe past 16 years to those that are in direneed of health care services.

An isolated and heart-warming outcome of the missionoccurred with the unplanned surgery on the MedicalMission bus driver by NAJASO Board Chairman, Dr.Richard Constable. The driver disclosed his herniatedcondition to Dr. Constable who in turn offered to help.Arrangements were made and the patient was taken toWinchester Surgical and Medical Institute (WSMI) inKingston where Dr. Constable and Dr. Neville Grahamperformed the needed surgical procedure to a verygrateful patient, again at no cost.

Attorneys Joan Pinnock and WayneGolding successfully returnedtwo deported persons to the US onSeptember 20, 2015. Devon Cameronand his sister Donna Cameron- deported as children from Maryland,United States, 25 years ago, on drug-related offences, were returned to theUS as citizens.

With Jamaicans being amongst thehighest number of immigrantsdeported from the United States,Golding and Pinnock have dedicatedthemselves to helping those who areeligible to return to be reunited withtheir family members and friendsresiding in the US through this initiative.

Both attorneys are also JamaicaDiaspora Advisory Board members- Pinnock for the Northeast USA andGolding, for the Southeast USA.

Their project, titled Jamaica DiasporaUSA Involuntary Returnee InformationForum, was launched following the6 Biennial Jamaica DiasporaConference in Montego Bay.

Services are provided at no costto involuntary returnees.

The Diaspora Day of Service was the final dayreserved for the Diaspora to participatein philanthropic projects. Nineteen criticalprojects were undertaken island-wide, anoted increase from 8 in 2013. The Day ofService allowed Conference delegates to “giveback” by organising a project in variouslocations throughout the island, namely,Hanover, Manchester, St. Catherine, St. Ann,St. James, St. Mary, St. Thomas andWestmoreland.

T

GIVING BACK TOJAMAICA

PHILANTHROPYInauguralSymposium onImmigration &Deportation

InvoluntaryReturnees GoBack Home

HELP JamaicaMedical Mission

FEATURE >

DIASPORABEAT

th

FEB

RU

AR

Y 2

016

| IS

SUE

02

03

FEB

RU

AR

Y 2

016

| ISS

UE

02

04

ON THE BEAT

DIASPORABEAT

SPONSOR ANAGRICULTURE STUDENT

J'CAN AMBASSADORTO THE US MEETSWITH J'CAN LEADERS

JDA SOUTHERN USA MEETSWITH JAMAICAN HOSPITALITYWORKERS

Farm Up Jamaica's ‘Young Soldiersfor Food Security’ programme hasbeen giving students, fromseveral schools of agriculture, theopportunity to gain practical farmingexperience by working on an organicfarm every weekend in order toinspire them to transition intoJamaica’s next generation ofenvironmentally-conscious farmers.Sponsor a student at: https://fundrazr.com/links/c/b12R99/sh/e57AY1

Claudette Glegg, Liaison Officer – Jamaica CentralLabour Organization and Wayne C. Golding Sr.Esq., the Jamaica Diaspora Advisory BoardMember for the Southern United Statesembarked on a week-long tour of North andSouth Carolina, visiting with recruited H2-BJamaican hotel workers on the United StatesOverseas Hospitality Programme and theiremployers. The employers lauded the excellentwork ethics of the Jamaican workers andcommitted to increasing the number of recruitedJamaican workers.

01

04 NEW TECHNOLOGY TASK FORCEANNOUNCES PROJECT CALICO

The Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force has launchedthe Palisadoes initiative to promote open source softwaredevelopment in Jamaica. The first project, Calico, is a jointventure between the Task Force, the UWI Computing Societyand the Utech Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE).

Calico is modeled after the Google Summer of Code (GSoC),where students apply to develop new software features for alist of open source projects. Calico aims to educate Jamaicanbased students on how to participate in GSoC whilesimultaneously creating a feeder programme into this globallyrecognized programme that promotes high tech excellence.

Mark Milward, NAJASO, Public Relations Officer makes NAJASObook presentation to Professor Neville Ying, Chair, Programmeand Content Sub-Committee and Executive Director, JamaicaDiaspora Institute (JDI), on June 17, 2015 at the 6 Biennial JamaicaDiaspora Conference. Mr. Milward, who is also the Connecticutrepresentative for the Jamaica Diaspora Northeast CommitteeUSA was a panellist in the session, "Integrating Diaspora Skillsand Expertise in Investment Projects." The Investment projectsdiscussed by the panel were, the Jamaica Logistics Hub Initiativeand the Redevelopment projects for Downtown Kingston andMontego Bay.

02 03

01 National and DC area leaders in attendance at the meetingwith His Excellency Ralph Thomas, Jamaican Ambassador tothe USA, were Mr. Ricardo Nugent, President of the NationalAssociation of Jamaican and Supportive Organizations,(NAJASO), Dr. Jacqueline Payne-Borden, President of JamaicanNationals Association, Mr. Noel Godfrey, President of theJamaican Association of Maryland and Mrs. Marsha Coore-Lobban, Deputy Chief of Mission in the Jamaican Embassy.

05

BOOK PRESENTATION

th

Mrs. Joan Pinnock, Diaspora Advisory Board Member, USA, North East, Mrs. Erin Lue-Hing,Future Leader, USA, North East and the Hon. Arnaldo Brown, MP State Minister in theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, were among those delivering 300 toys to thechildren at the Bustamante Children’s Hospital on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 and some600 more to children in the Robin’s Nest Orphanage in St. Andrew and Mannings Boys Homein St. Elizabeth, during the Christmas season.

The toys were donated and collected from members in the USA North East region.

Diaspora bringChristmas CheerToys delivered to children at Bustamante Hospitalfor Children and several Orphanages

F L A S H B A C K

The Diaspora and Consular Affairs Department(DCAD) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs &Foreign Trade (MFAFT) convened the JamaicaDiaspora Advisory Board meeting on Monday,January 25, 2016 in the Belisario Suite at thePegasus Hotel.

The meeting was chaired by the Hon. ArnaldoBrown, MP, State Minister, MFAFT, and attendedby representatives from the USA and Canada andrepresentatives from the UK who participated viaSkype.

The meeting discussed matters of importance tothe DAB members present and afforded them theopportunity to brief and advise the Minister onissues of concern to their respectivecommunities. From L-R, Denise Donaldson and AmbassadorSharon Saunders of DCAD; HMOS Brown; TreciaElliot, Under Secretary for Foreign ServiceOperations, MFAFT; Jamaica Diaspora AdvisoryBoard (JDAB) Representatives, Wayne Golding Sr.Esq, Southern USA; Joan Pinnock, North East USA;Erin Lue-Hing, Future Leader for North East USA;(partially hidden) Lincoln Downer and TraceyBlackwood, DCAD; (foreground) Kimone Gooden,JDAB Representative for West/Mid-West USAand (partially hidden) Professor Neville Ying,Jamaica Diaspora Institute.

JAMAICA DIASPORA ADVISORYBOARD MEETING

JAMAICA NATIONALDIASPORA POLICY

DIASPORABEAT

Read the Draft National Diaspora Policy, byclicking here:http://www.jhcottawa.ca/ESW/Files/DIASPORA_POLICY_BRIEF_dated_june_2015.pdf

An extract was circulated at the 2015Jamaica Diaspora Conference FE

BR

UA

RY

20

16| I

SSU

E 0

2FE

BR

UA

RY

20

16| I

SSU

E 0

2

05

Diaspora Appointments

The Home Depot has installed a 50-year-old native of Jamaica as its executive in chargeof all U.S. stores. Ann-Marie Campbell, who was born in Kingston, took over the reins of HomeDepot’s stores on Feb. 1, the Georgia company told employees last week.

The Georgia State University grad, who has a degree in philosophy and an MBA, started as acashier at Home Depot in 1985. She is ranked at number 38 on Fortune's Most Powerful Womenlist.

Last year, Campbell said that she learned much of what she knows about business from hergrandmother in Jamaica, who didn’t finish high school but turned a roadside business into amultimillion-dollar company.

In her new job Campbell will oversee about 2,000 stores and the bulk of the retailer’s nearly400,000 employees.

Ann-Marie Campbell

Dr. Stacey Sharpe

Lieutenant Commander Paul Smith

Head of US StoresHome Depot

Professor of MarketingCalifornia State University

Jamaican-born Dr Stacey Sharpe has joined a growing list of female African-Americanbusiness professors in the United States, helping break the barrier that discourages theinvolvement of minorities in business.

The 34-year-old, who was recently invited to join the staff at California State University asa marketing professor, is one of 96 African- American women who graduated from 'ThePhD Project'-- an award-winning programme which was designed to create a more diversecorporate America.

While Sharpe admits becoming a professor of marketing was never a part of her originalplan, she is humbled by the opportunity and looks forward to the years ahead.

Clive W. Blackwood, from Mulgrave Lane, Kingston, was recently named Executive VicePresident and General Auditor of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York - the largest bank inthe federal reserve system in the United States.

A graduate of Ardenne High School, Blackwood is now the bank's liaison with all mattersrelating to the office of the inspector general of the board of governors of the Federal ReserveSystem. Additionally, he is the bank's liaison to the US Government Accountability Office.

"I am elated and humbled by this appointment and it proves that hard work, determination andfaith do pay, and anything I do, I do it with passion and integrity." Blackwood told The Gleaner.He noted that he is the first black in the history of the organisation to hold the position.

Clive W. BlackwoodExecutive VP/General Auditor

Royal Canadian Navy

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Lieutenant-Commander Paul Smith, who was born in Lionel Town, Jamaica, is a pioneer in theRoyal Canadian Navy. He is the first black person to reach the rank of Commander in theNavy’s 106-year history. He received his appointment to the rank in January 2010, but onlywhen he got his first ship in July 2014 was interest aroused about the potential history-makingnature of his rank.

He says it is an honor to represent the black community and the Canadian Navy and that heembraces the responsibility. He is currently in command of the ship HMCS Summerside, whichis participating in Operation CARIBBE 2016 as part of a multinational action against drugtrafficking.

-Jamaica Observer

-Extracted from http://vifreepress.com/2016/02/8272/

-Jamaica Gleaner

-jamaicans.com

FEB

RU

AR

Y 2

016

| ISS

UE

02

06

EVENTCALENDAR

MARCH

JUNE

OCTOBER

21-24

10-11

25

25

13-14

DIASPORA MOURNS PASSING OFNAJASO FOUNDER & PROLIFICPHOTOGRAPHER2 BIENNIAL ADVANCEMENT IN

EDUCATION SUMMIT 2016 JAMAICA DIASPORA EDUCATIONTASK FORCE/JAMAICA TEACHERS’ASSOCIATION INAUGURAL MIDDLEMANAGERS’ WORKSHOPS"JAMAICA-DIASPORA PARTNERSHIP:SOLIDIFYING GAINS, ACHIEVING MORE"

VENUE: JAMAICA COLLEGE

REGIONAL DIASPORA CONFERENCESNEW YORK

UNITED KINGDOM

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

(VENUES WILL BE ADVISED)

JAMAICA CHRISTIANDIASPORA CONFERENCEVENUE: IBEROSTAR ROSE HALL MONTEGO BAY

PUBLISHED BYTHE PUBLIC RELATIONS & MEDIA AFFAIRS UNIT

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS & FOREIGN TRADE

Dr. Charles Anderson Sr was a trulyexemplary Jamaican who took hispassion for people’s welfare to thehighest level, not only in the countryhe settled in, but also his belovedJamaica.

We indeed mourn the passing of ourmember of the Jamaican Diasporawho thought always of the welfare ofhis fellow men as he donated time andhis medical expertise to managing andparticipating in repeated healthmissions to Jamaica and also missionsin his host country.

May the legacy he has left behind inservice to his community, host andhome country be the reminder of thepotential and power of one individualto improve the world he entered.

Hon. Arnaldo BrownMinister of State

Ministry of Foreign Affairs &Foreign Trade

The island of Jamaica and the ChineseJamaican community in Toronto havelost one of their most notablepersonalities… PhotographerRaymond Anthony Chen (Ray Chen),known to many as “Uncle Ray”, passedaway surrounded by family memberson February 7, 2016.

Ray was a successful commercialphotographer in Montreal. Heconquered cancer inthe 1980s and this sparked his passion to return toJamaica to photograph its beauty ofthe land and the wonderful people.

Ray was happiest with camera inhand. He has been quoted as saying,“Photography...it’s in your blood andyou can’t get it out.” During hisodyssey, he always looked to capturethe spirit of the moment. The timeless,enduring beauty of the people he metand the splendor of the iconiclandmarks he visited live on throughhis photos. Ray’s keen and discerningphotographic eye was able to captureenough of those moments to fill atleast 3 books. Ray’s books overflowedwith the warmth of the JamaicanSpirit.

nd

&

FEB

RU

AR

Y 2

016

| ISS

UE

02

07