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Work Advanced on Migration and Development Policy

By: , November 23, 2015

The Key Point:

Work is advanced on the International Migration and Development Policy, which seeks to address the challenges and opportunities associated with migration.
Work Advanced on Migration and Development Policy
Photo: Melroy Sterling
State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Arnaldo Brown (centre), greets Migration and Development Programme Coordinator, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Republic of Moldova, Ghenadie Cretu (left). Occasion was Wednesday’s (November 18) meeting of the National Working Group on International Migration and Development (NWGIMD), at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), New Kingston. Listening keenly is: Director of the PIOJ’s Social Planning and Research Division, Easton Williams. The NWGIMD is chaired by Mr. Brown, with Mr. Williams serving as his deputy.

The Facts

  • The State Minister was speaking at a meeting of the National Working Group on International Migration and Development (NWGIMD), which he also chairs, at the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s (PIOJ) New Kingston offices on Wednesday, November 18.
  • The meeting formed part of the itinerary of activities for a visiting five-member delegation from the Republic of Moldova, who are on a study tour.

The Full Story

Work is advanced on the International Migration and Development Policy, which seeks to address the challenges and opportunities associated with migration.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Arnaldo Brown, said that preparation of the policy has advanced to the Green Paper stage for “further and deeper” discussions in order to fine-tune the document, thus taking it to the White Paper stage.

After which it will go to Parliament for approval “where it (will formally become) the policy of the country.”

The State Minister was speaking at a meeting of the National Working Group on International Migration and Development (NWGIMD), which he also chairs, at the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s (PIOJ) New Kingston offices on Wednesday, November 18.

Mr. Brown also advised that several drafts of the policy on the Diaspora and Development, which is a subset of the International Migration and Development Policy, have been completed.

This, he said, is “particularly important” to Jamaica, given that over time, “the Jamaican population outside of Jamaica (has outgrown) the population that is inside Jamaica.”

“Our estimate is that there are about 3.5 million Jamaicans living (overseas),” he said, compared to between 2.7 and 2.8 million Jamaicans residing locally.

“The fact is, when you think of the contribution of the persons (in the Diaspora) to Jamaica…it is significant…because, in terms of remittances, we are talking about (over) US$2 billion that is sent back here on an annual basis,” Mr. Brown said.

He further noted that, “their contributions in the fields of health care… (and) education (are notable)… (as) also in the (other) sectors where they make…contributions, generally.”

Additionally, Mr. Brown said the World Bank has established that members of the Diaspora are “interested in investing in Jamaica,” and to this end, “the policy will seek to see how best we can accommodate and facilitate that ease of investments.”

The meeting formed part of the itinerary of activities for a visiting five-member delegation from the Republic of Moldova, who are on a study tour.

Their visit will focus on issues related to the integration of public migration and development agendas, as well as institutional mechanisms for mainstreaming migration into international development strategies.

The International Migration and Development Policy seeks to address the broad and evolving range of challenges and opportunities associated with migration.

It will focus on several thematic areas, including: Human Rights and Social Protection; Labour Mobility and Development; Public Order; Safety and Security; Family; Migration and Development; and Data, Research and Information Systems.

The PIOJ is the primary facilitator for mainstreaming migration into national development strategies.

Last Updated: November 23, 2015

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