Senator Franklyn to take Part in Diaspora Activities in UK

State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Delano Franklyn will be the special guest of the Jamaican Diaspora, United Kingdom (UK) next weekend.
Senator Franklyn, who has special responsibility for Jamaicans overseas, will officially open the UK Diaspora’s Immigration Forum at Stonebridge Park and will be the guest speaker at the inaugural Ball set for Saturday, June 18.
The State Minister will also address a special Diaspora Church Service in Manchester on June 19 and meet in Birmingham on June 20 with Jamaican Councillors and political leaders from across the UK. While in Birmingham, he will also address a community meeting.
Mr. Franklyn’s visit is one of the highlights of activities being put on by the Jamaican Diaspora (UK) to mark Jamaican Diaspora Day on June 16. That day will also see the official launch of the UK Diaspora at the Jamaican High Commission in London.
Other activities will include church services in Gloucester and Birmingham, a special Cultural Programme for schools at the Joseph Lancaster Primary School in London. More than 10 primary schools from across London will participate in the programme under the theme: ‘Images of Jamaica’. The objective is to expose the children to Jamaica’s unique culture, arts and sports.
The Jamaica Diaspora UK group was established following last year’s Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Kingston. One of the resolutions of the Kingston conference was the establishment of Diaspora groups in the UK, United States and Canada.
The UK group is divided into six regions, aimed at incorporating all Jamaican organizations and individuals. There is also a range of interest groups covering areas such as business and economics; education, culture, arts and sport; church and faith groups; legal and political; media, public relations and communications; and health and social welfare.