Holness Opens Oversubscribed 11th Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay

Montego Bay hosted the ceremonial opening of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference at the Montego Bay Convention Center, bringing together delegates from more than 14 countries under the theme of diaspora partnerships for rebuilding a more resilient Jamaica. Prime Minister Andrew Holness delivered the keynote address, joined by Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of State Alando Terrelong, Opposition Leader Mark Golding, conference chair Earl Jarrett of the JN Group, and Montego Bay Mayor Councillor Richard Vernon.

The gathering convened roughly seven months after Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica on 28 October 2025 as a Category 5 storm, the strongest hurricane on record to hit the island. Johnson Smith said the conference was oversubscribed for the first time in more than 20 years, with more than 1,000 people attending opening activities and the convention centre filled beyond capacity. She asked attendees to remember former New York Consul General Alcian Wilson, who died before the event.

Jarrett said 80 exhibitors took part in the Jamaica Marketplace, connecting delegates with government agencies, businesses, and university innovators. Terrelong noted that remittance inflows exceeded US$3 billion last year and highlighted new conference tools, including the AI Tick Connect platform. He said sessions would cover disaster recovery, food security, health, investment, and youth engagement, alongside a record 21 projects for the conference day of service in parishes most affected by Melissa.

Mayor Vernon welcomed delegates to Jamaica's tourism capital, saying Montego Bay's recovery from 2025 devastation demonstrated resilience in action. Golding urged leaders to prioritise families still living under tarpaulins in Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Hanover, southern St. James, and parts of Trelawny, while encouraging diaspora participation on public boards.

Holness thanked overseas Jamaicans for hurricane relief support and said Jamaica had mobilised US$6 billion in reconstruction financing. He cited record-low unemployment near 3.5 percent, inflation within target, the highest foreign reserves in the country's history, and a 67 percent reduction in homicides over four years. He directed delegates to the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority and its FAST programme for qualifying investments of US$15 million or more, and said four hospitals would be rebuilt under the authority, including upgrades to Kingston Public Hospital.

The opening ceremony closed with a 30-minute break before the first plenary on climate, tourism, and disaster resilience.