Island Residents Urged to Seize Links at 11th Jamaica Diaspora Conference

Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, is calling on Jamaicans living on the island to make full use of the business and networking openings tied to the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference.

The event runs from June 14 to 18 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James.

Addressing a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, the Minister said the conference is not meant for overseas nationals alone. It also gives residents a space to deepen ties with the Diaspora.

“You would be surprised at the number of Jamaicans who attend the conference… meaning, who live here. They not only come and set up in the marketplace, but they come, they buy a day ticket, they register, they come and understand what’s happening.

“They meet people, and then they continue their connection, whether for business, for philanthropy, a project they want to work on together, their old school association, or to build some community-based project,” she said.

Senator Johnson Smith added that delegates now travel from far beyond the traditional overseas hubs. Participants are expected from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, reflecting how wide Jamaica’s Diaspora network has grown.

“There is no limit. It’s no longer the USA, UK, and Canada… although we get our largest groups [from those countries],” Senator Johnson Smith remarked. She also singled out Canada, which fielded the biggest delegation at the previous conference.

The 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference will gather members of the Jamaican Diaspora alongside government officials, private-sector players, academics, and civil-society groups. The shared focus is advancing national work toward a more climate-resilient Jamaica.

This year’s meeting carries added weight after Hurricane Melissa and recent seismic activity, both of which have highlighted the country’s exposure to climate-related and geological risks.

Anyone wishing to attend may sign up through the official conference site at bjdc.mfaft.gov.jm.