TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................... 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Conference Objectives ................................................................................................................................... 5 CONFERENCE PLANNING & EXECUTION ......................................................................................................... 5 Conference Planning Committee ................................................................................................................. 5 Sub-Committees of the 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference .................................................... 5 Sponsorships and Partnerships ................................................................................................................... 6 Presenters ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 The Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and .................................................................................... 6 Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council (GJDYC) ...................................................................................... 6 FEATURES OF THE CONFERENCE ..................................................................................................................... 6 CEREMONIAL OPENING ...................................................................................................................................... 7 CONFERENCE PROGRAMME .............................................................................................................................. 8 Plenaries ........................................................................................................................................................... 8 CONCURRENT BREAK-OUT SESSIONS ............................................................................................................. 9 Summary of Concurrent Break-out Sessions ............................................................................................. 9 LUNCHEON PLENARIES .................................................................................................................................... 10 RIVERSIDE CHATS ............................................................................................................................................. 11 AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS ........................................................................................................................ 12 The Diaspora Governor-General's Achievement Awards (GGAA) ....................................................... 12 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Recognition Awards .................................................. 12 Government at Your Service (GOVAYS) and MARKETPLACE ................................................................... 13 CLOSING CEREMONY ........................................................................................................................................ 14 KEY CONFERENCE OUTCOMES ........................................................................................................................ 14 Launch of Two (2) Virtual Portals for Diaspora Engagement and Connectivity ............................... 14 Launch of the Jamaica Diaspora Mentorship Academy (JDMA) ........................................................... 15 Youth Innovation Challenge........................................................................................................................ 15 Launch of "Eat Jamaican Day" Initiative ....................................................................................................... 16 DAY OF SERVICE ................................................................................................................................................ 17 RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIONS ............................................................................................................. 17 CONFERENCE PICTORIAL................................................................................................................................. 32 APPENDIX I ............................................................................................................................................... 33 APPENDIX II ............................................................................................................................................. 34 APPENDIX III ............................................................................................................................................ 37 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is grateful for the contribution of various stakeholders in both the public and private sectors - Ministries, Departments, Agencies; the Planning Committee; sponsors and the Diaspora attendees who travelled from 18 different countries to participate in the milestone 10 th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in June 2024. We extend sincere appreciation to the office of the Governor-General, the leadership of our two Ministers Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, JP, and the Honourable Alando Terrelonge, MP, Minister of State, who were invaluable in the planning and execution of the Conference. Acknowledgement is made of Ambassador Sheila Sealy Monteith, CD, JP, Permanent Secretary and Ambassador Sharon Miller, Chief Technical Director; the dedicated Conference Secretariat, led by Mrs. Ariel Bowen, Under-Secretary in the Diaspora, Protocol and Consular Affairs Division and Mrs. Lloyd Wilks Director and the team from the Diaspora Affairs Department, who ensured delivery of the Conference imperatives. Appreciation is further extended to a full-scale team which supported all aspects of the Conference in areas such as public relations, rapporteuring, accounting IT, office management, registration, and varying levels of administrative support. See names listed in Appendix I. The role of the Heads of Jamaican Missions and staff overseas is also very much appreciated. We are deeply grateful to the Legacy Partners - the VM Group Limited, Grace Kennedy Group, the JN Group as well as new and returning Sponsors for their sterling support. The Ministry extends special commendations to Mr. Courtney Campbell, President of the Victoria Mutual Group Limited, who graciously and ably led as Conference Chairman. We thank Dr Kevin Brown, former Global Jamaica Diaspora Council member and Principal of UTECH who assisted with the Conference Programme. We also wish to express particular appreciation for the input, presence and participation of the members of the Global Diaspora Council (GJDC) and the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council (GJDYC) whose combined efforts contributed to the direction and programme planning. Their names are listed at Appendix II. A special note of thanks to the Office of the Mayor of Montego Bay; the Pastor and members of the Burchell Baptist Church for hosting the opening church service; the Montego Bay Convention Centre; our partner hotels – Oceans Hotel and Iberostar; official transportation provided by Island Car Rentals; the Masters of Ceremonies, Moderators, Presenters and Panellists who all contributed to making the programme robust and informative. The resounding success of a sold-out Marketplace was attributed to the participation of over 60 private and public sector entities, Ministry, Department and Agencies. We wish to thank our media partners in particular the JIS, the RJR Gleaner Group; Jamaicans.com; Fresh FM Radio and varying other media support who worked to enable the dissemination of information across the globe. Finally, the Ministry is deeply appreciative of the work of Project Manager, Lisa-Ann Ogilvie whose insights, skill and agility enabled the seamless execution of multiple event components of the Conference. We acknowledge her meticulous logistical coordination and real-time issue resolution attributes and attention to details to the various planning components including logistics, security and emergency planning, audiovisual and technology integration, Catering and hospitality management, volunteer and staffing coordination. The Ministry is deeply indebted to all who were involved in the process of delivering what was a very successful 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference 2024. See comprehensive list of sponsors, partnering organizations and individuals at Appendix III. We look forwarding to working with all again, as we plan the 11th Conference in 2026. 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference (10 th BJDC) was held on 16th – 20th June 2024, at the Montego Bay Conference Centre. It was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, in partnership with a range of stakeholders including other Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Legacy Partners the VM Group, the Jamaica National Group and Grace Kennedy Group; the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council (GJDC), as well as the broader Diaspora. Mr. Courtney Campbell, President and Chief Executive Officer, VM Group, served as the Conference Chairman. The Conference was convened under the theme “United for Jamaica’s Transformation: Fostering Peace, Productivity and Youth Empowerment”. It marked another significant milestone in the Government’s formal engagement mechanism with the Diaspora over the last 20 years. Its venue, which also marked a return to Montego Bay for the first time since 2015, was in response to calls from members of the Diaspora including the Diaspora Councils. The 10th BJDC was also the first in-person Conference since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the adoption of the National Diaspora Policy in November 2022. The Conference attracted 1,193 delegates from 18 countries, marking the second largest number of participants in the history of the Conference. In additional to attendance from the usual large Diaspora communities from the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom, attendees from the following countries participated: Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Kingdom of Belgium, Cayman Islands, Republic of Chile, St. Kitts and Nevis, France, Germany, Ghana, Kingdom of Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, and Mexico. Highlights of the Conference included a church service and welcome reception at the start of the Conference on Diaspora Day, Sunday 16th June 2024. It also included a comprehensive programme of activities around the Conference theme, including panel discussions; fireside chats with distinguished members of the Diaspora and officials in Jamaica held in plenary; luncheon plenaries; nightly entertainment and a Government-at-Your Service (GOVAY) and Market Place. The GOVAY and Market Place allowed for the provision of goods and essential services to be made available to the Diaspora at a single location. Over 20 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), participated in the Market Place, with a total of 60 exhibitors and 26 table-top displays from across multiple stakeholder interests. This year, for the first time a member of the Diaspora from the United States became a major contributor as a Platinum Sponsor. Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister, was the Keynote speaker at the Ceremonial Opening of the Conference. Other speakers included Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and the Honourable Alando Terrelonge, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Mr. Mark Golding, Leader of the Opposition and Mr. Courtney Campbell, Chairman of Conference. Welcome remarks were also brought by the Mayor and Custos of Montego Bay. The ceremony was live-streamed through on-line platforms which recorded over 5,000 participants. Three (3) international organisations participated, namely: International Organisation for Migration (IOM); Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The IOM presented the Jamaica Diaspora Engagement Model and the IDB, the Diaspora Registration Portal to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade which were subsequently launched by the Minister at the Conference. This Conference presented the most expansive and robust Programme in the history of its staging, facilitating discussions on a range of issues critical to national development and the Diaspora’s well-being. The agenda was informed by prior consultations which included four (4) Regional Diaspora conferences held in 2023 in Africa, UK, Canada, and Continental Europe, as well as with key stakeholders including MDAs, Legacy Partners, and the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council (GJDYC). The Conference concluded with a number of positive outcomes including the launch of two portals to strengthen Diaspora engagements; the introduction of the Eat Jamaican Day Initiative; soft launch the Diaspora Mentorship Academy, the identification of winners in the Youth Innovation Challenge and the handing over of an atmospheric Water Generator, created by a member of the UK Diaspora, to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. 4 Conference Objectives The major objectives of the Conference were to: • Continue to secure a positive trajectory in the Government’s relationship with the Diaspora; • Support the development and prioritisation of the welfare of the Diaspora where they reside; • Facilitate inclusivity with a concerted and deliberate youth focus, particularly in respect of 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation Jamaicans overseas; • Draw attention to opportunities to engage in relation to trade, business, investment, health, education, agriculture, and the orange economy (creative sectors, and sport); • Launch the Diaspora virtual platforms, namely: the Jamaica Diaspora Engagement Model (JAMDEM), and the ConnectMeJa (Diaspora Registration Portal); • Encourage and sustain philanthropic pathways towards nation-building through the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE); and • Continue to sensitise participants to the role of the GJDC and GJDYC and their relationship with the MFAFT, considering the need for these bodies to be responsive to global and national shifts which may impact the execution of their respective mandates. CONFERENCE PLANNING & EXECUTION Conference Planning Committee The planning and execution of the Conference necessitated extensive multi-stakeholder and inter-agency consultation and collaboration. Under the leadership of its Chair, Mr. Courtney Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of VM Group, planning and execution was supported by a cadre of professionals drawn from a diverse range of stakeholders. Among them were Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Jamaican Missions overseas; Diaspora members including the GJDC and GJDYC; members of the umbrella Group of Churches and civil society organizations. In ensuring that the concerns of the Diaspora were taken into account, a number of Regional Conferences were convened in conjunction with Jamaican Missions in Africa, Continental Europe, the UK and Canada and in consultations with the Diaspora Councils. The Conference Programme also benefitted from the work of a former member of the Diaspora – Dr Kevin Brown now President of UTECH. Mrs. Ariel Bowen, Under-Secretary for the Diaspora, Protocol and Consular Affairs Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, in her capacity as lead coordinator, working in conjunction with the Director and staff of the Diaspora Affairs Department served as the Secretariat of the Conference The Planning Committee was subdivided into Sub-Committees for effective execution of various aspects of the Conference. Sub-Committees of the 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference The list of the Sub-Committees is as follows: Budget and Finance Government at Your Service Programme and Content Protocol Rapporteurs Security Secretariat & Registration Entertainment/Look and Feel Logistics Volunteer Diaspora Day of Service Public Relations Technical & ICT Marketing Market Place 5 Sponsorships and Partnerships Sponsorship and key partnerships played a pivotal role in ensuring the success and sustainability of the 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference. The Conference was executed at a cost of approximately J$100 million and was only possible due to the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Legacy Partners; VM Group, JN Group and Grace Kennedy, the Project Manager, its sponsors, exhibitors in the Marketplace, Conference Registration fees from attendees and Conference magazine advertisements. Presenters Moderators, Presenters and Panellists were experts in their respective fields, drawn from both the Diaspora and Jamaica. This provided for rich, relevant and engaging sessions. It also allowed for significant participation of the Diaspora in the Conference proceedings. They were provided with pertinent documentation and information to support their roles in the Conference. They were also facilitated with Conference branded templates to enhance their presentations. As a major difference with previous conferences, the presenters were asked to forgo the use of PowerPoint presentations and engage more directly with the audience. This change worked effectively. The Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council (GJDYC) The 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in true stakeholder manner incorporated the assistance of the GJDC and GJDYC, a 30-member Diaspora group was also critical to the success of the Conference. By way of their ardent promotion and proposals, they spread the word in the locations where they reside and supported the process inclusive of being onsite in Montego Bay to lend practical support. Amongst the responsibilities of the Council is the enhancement of collaboration between Jamaicans at home and those living overseas. The GJDC consists of 14 elected members from across the Diaspora communities in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America. The remaining 16 members are appointed as follows: Six (6) members from Africa; Asia and the Pacific; Latin America; the Caribbean; Europe (excluding the United Kingdom); and the Middle East. Nine (9) members are in the areas of Arts, Sport and Culture; Citizen Security; Commerce; Development Issues; Education; Faith-based Community; Health and Wellness; Agriculture; and Environment. The final member of the Council is a discretionary appointment. Their names and email contacts are at Appendix II and III. FEATURES OF THE CONFERENCE The 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference had 16 Special Features: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Thanksgiving Worship Service Welcome Reception Ceremonial Opening 10 Plenary Sessions 10 Concurrent Break-Out Sessions 4 Riverside Chats 2 Luncheon Plenaries Governor General’s Achievement Awards – Diaspora Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Recognition Awards 6