DR. Baugh Lauds IOM

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh, has underscored the importance of leveraging the skills, technical expertise and knowledge resident among members of the Jamaican Diaspora, to the nation’s benefit.

In a brief address delivered by Under Secretary, Multilateral Affairs Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ambassador Vilma McNish, during an International Organization for Migration (IOM) 60th anniversary ceremony at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), New Kingston, on Wednesday (December 14).

Dr. Baugh noted the role which stakeholders in the Diaspora can play in national development.

He argued that its members can make significant contributions to realising and fulfilling the goals and objectives of the country’s National Development Plan, Vision 2030 Jamaica. The Plan seeks to position Jamaica to attain developed country status, and make it the place of choice for persons to live, work, do business, and raise families.

“This contribution (by the Diaspora) cannot, however, be limited simply to remittances, important as these are. We share the view that it is also critical that we leverage and harness the skills and knowledge resident in the Diaspora,” Dr. Baugh asserted.

Dr. Baugh said the administration was satisfied with the role the IOM has been playing, as a main contributor, along with the United Nations’ systems, and the European Union (EU), in providing assistance in the development of a National Policy and Plan of Action on International Migration and Development.

Established in 1951, the IOM is the leading inter-governmental organisation in dealing with issues pertaining to migration.  Jamaica became an IOM member in 2005 and, through the agency’s local mission, benefits from reintegration assistance and advice for Jamaicans resident overseas, who seek to return home, and to persons seeking to re-settle here.