Jamaica Diaspora Conference Nears Start As Speakers Remain Unlisted

NEW YORK: With four days to go before the 11th biennial Diaspora Conference begins, some people considering attendance say they remain uneasy because the programme does not give enough detail about who will lead and speak at sessions.

Members of the Northeast Health Committee say the published agenda does not identify moderators or panellists, with the gap drawing particular concern around health-related discussions. “I don’t know what is happening as there is no list of speakers and moderators for the heath sector,” said Dr Robert Clarke. “In the past, I have been one of the speakers on health but we have had no information about who will make up the panels. I have reached out to the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but have had no call back.”

Clarke, head of Jamaica Medical Mission, said he plans to attend and has about 12 people from his organisation confirmed for the event. He told The Gleaner he considers it unusual that the agenda does not name the persons expected to sit on the panels.

Claudette Powell, who also serves on the Northeast Health Committee, raised similar concerns about the absence of published panellist information. “I am very concerned about the lack of [knowledge] who the panellists are, who the moderators are, and what are the areas for discussion,” she said.

Powell said several nurses are due to travel for the conference, including some who would be attending for the first time, but the limited detail on the programme has left some of them uncertain about going. “I cannot give information to them about the speakers when asked,” she said.

A review of the ministry’s website shows that an agenda is available, but it does not name speakers.

For the first conference day, June 15, the listed activities include registration, marketplace, and government at your service. According to the agenda, delegates will be able to visit booths and stalls mounted by public- and private-sector entities.

The programme says the opening segment will include welcomes and remarks from key stakeholders, but it does not identify those persons. The plenary titled Mobilizing the Diaspora Trade and Investment for a resilient Jamaica also appears without named speakers or panellists.

The Governor General’s Diaspora Achievement Awards are scheduled to be handed out on the first day. Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is listed to deliver the keynote address on the second day.

Michelle Tulloch Neil, Global Diaspora Council member for the Northeast, told The Gleaner that about 100 people have registered to attend. She said interest remains strong and that she has been responding to questions from persons seeking details about the event. “I have been sending out information on a daily basis to various people who have reached out about the conference,” she said.

Dr B. Roy Davidson, the Global Diaspora Council member for the West/Midwest, said roughly 95 people are confirmed from his area.

Khalfoni Fullerton, Jamaica’s honorary consul in Texas, said he will attend and expects at least 10 people from the Texas region to be there. He also told The Gleaner that some people he contacted decided against attending, saying that proposals agreed on at previous conferences had not been implemented.

The conference is scheduled for June 14 to 18 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James.