Distinguished Jamaicans Engaged For Diaspora Mapping Project

Several distinguished Jamaicans have been identified and engaged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to assist in promoting and advancing the country’s Diaspora Mapping Project.

Most notable among these are former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson; and Olympian, Ambassador Merlene Ottey, who resides in Slovenia.

The Project, one of several recommendations emerging from the 2006 Jamaica Diaspora Conference, is an online survey intended to identify the locations, skills, expertise, and interests of Jamaican residing overseas.

Announcement of the engagements was made by Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade State Minister, Hon. Arnaldo Brown, during his 2015/16 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, last week.

Mr. Brown said other persons who have given their undertaking include: Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon; businessman, Levi Roots, and Delores Cooper, O.D., who reside in the United Kingdom (UK); Dr. Mary Anne Chambers and Bishop Audley James from Canada; and well-known Jamaican comedian and actor, Oliver Samuels.

Mr. Brown said the Ministry is currently liaising with Jamaica’s overseas Missions and Diaspora Advisory Board Members, to identify persons for similar engagements in the United States of America (USA).

“We anticipate that we will have a very solid data base that we can engage our people and members of the Diaspora (through), where that is concern,” he added.

Mr. Brown also announced that the 18-month mapping project, which was launch in June 2014, will be extended by two months.

“The nature of this project is to ensure that we can identify (persons in) our Diaspora, wherever they are, their skills, how they are engaged in Jamaica, how they are supporting Jamaica, how they would like to support Jamaica, and to allow us to provide them with information in a timely manner, in relation to the investment opportunities that are available in Jamaica,” he added.