Diaspora Hailed for US$3.12B in Remittances to Jamaica

Jamaicans living overseas remitted US$3.12 billion during the 2025/26 fiscal year, with inflows increasing significantly in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, underscoring the diaspora’s vital role in supporting Jamaica’s economic stability and national development.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, disclosed that an additional US$93 million was remitted during the three months immediately following the hurricane, compared with the corresponding period a year earlier.

He noted that December 2025 recorded a historic monthly high of US$296 million in remittance inflows.

The State Minister was addressing more than 300 delegates during the opening of the second Jamaica Diaspora Northeast USA Conference at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Friday (October 23).

He expressed gratitude to Jamaicans overseas for their generosity and steadfast commitment to their homeland, noting that the diaspora’s contributions extend beyond financial remittances to include professional expertise, volunteerism, cultural advocacy and sustained community engagement.

“Your contributions to Jamaica’s continued growth and development, even more so in the aftermath of the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, to help guide our steady recovery must be acknowledged,” Mr. Terrelonge said.

He also recognised the leadership and support provided by Jamaican communities across the northeastern United States.

“Jamaica’s Diaspora is indeed a veritable partner in the continued growth and development of Jamaica, and on behalf of our Government and people, I thank you for your continued generosity,” Mr. Terrelonge added.

The two-day conference, being held from October 23 to 24 under the theme ‘One Diaspora, One Vision: Advancing Jamaica Together’, brings together government officials, diplomats, business executives, investors, educators, healthcare professionals, community leaders and young professionals to explore ways of strengthening the diaspora’s contribution to Jamaica’s development.

Mr. Terrelonge said the Government intends to strengthen its relationship with Jamaicans overseas by moving beyond individual acts of goodwill and towards sustainable programmes, enduring partnerships and measurable national outcomes.

He cited the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Adopt-a-Clinic programme as an example of the diaspora’s impact on public services.

As of October 2025, 37 of the 59 adopted health clinics had received diaspora support, representing a commitment of more than J$100 million towards improving access to primary healthcare in communities across Jamaica.

The State Minister also highlighted the work of Farm Up Jamaica, a New York-based non-governmental organisation whose agricultural initiatives aim to strengthen local production, reduce food imports, and increase exports through the cultivation of organic produce.

Other initiatives arising from diaspora engagement include professional development programmes and seminars in education, public health, science and technology, as well as contributions to school and healthcare infrastructure through the National Education Trust (NET) and the National Health Fund (NHF).

According to Mr. Terrelonge, these initiatives demonstrate how collaboration between Jamaicans at home and abroad can advance national development in practical and sustainable ways.

“The Jamaican Diaspora is, therefore, a reservoir of professional expertise, entrepreneurial capacity, innovation, networks, and international experience,” he declared.

Mr. Terrelonge encouraged conference participants to identify opportunities to more systematically connect those resources with Jamaica’s development priorities.

The State Minister said the Government was exploring ways to deepen diaspora participation in national development by reducing institutional barriers to trade, business, investment, and philanthropy.

He also pointed to opportunities to improve access to investment opportunities and expand diaspora participation in advisory boards, knowledge-transfer programmes, and policy committees.

Mr. Terrelonge encouraged Jamaicans overseas to see themselves not merely as contributors to the country’s recovery but as partners in shaping its future.

Looking ahead to Jamaica’s 65th anniversary of Independence in 2027, he invited diaspora members to participate in the official celebrations, scheduled for August 5 to 8, under the theme, ‘Celebrate, Connect, Experience, Give Back’.

Mr. Terrelonge also invited them to use the occasion to reconnect with family, support Jamaican businesses, explore investment opportunities, and introduce younger generations to the island’s rich culture and heritage.

The conference’s opening session also featured presentations by Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Brian Wallace; Consul General of Jamaica in New York, Oliver Mair; and Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington DC, Lishann Salmon.

The event is being organised under the leadership of Global Jamaica Diaspora Council representative for the Northeast United States, Michelle Tulloch-Neil.

It builds on the inaugural Northeast Diaspora Conference held in Philadelphia in 2025.