MY plan to be at the Diaspora Conference ran into stormy weather and I did not make it. Luckily, I have enough friends with a capacity for news carrying, who have kindly kept me in the loop.

Friend Juliet Gordon, a noted tour operator, reports that it was a rainy journey for her and others who headed out from Kingston early Monday morning bound for the conference, only to run headlong into a serious rainstorm in St Ann. The weather was so rough that the helicopter taking the prime minister to Montego Bay to give the opening address at the conference had to be grounded. She continued the journey by road. The opening ceremony at the Montego Bay Convention Centre was delayed, but the passion and fervour of the opening address, when it came, compensated for any inconvenience caused. It was described as an encouraging “pep talk”, urging faith and hope in our homeland facing the challenges of the times. The buzzword was “investment” and the rallying cry: “We’re ready for it.”

The other high point of the Diaspora conference experience was the “overwhelming spirit of oneness”, said my friend. “It didn’t matter where you came from — America, Canada, United Kingdom — there was this tremendous sense of unity. Everyone had the same concerns and the same dreams for what their country, their Jamaica, must do to move forward.” My friend gave high marks to the conference organisers, especially the information and hospitality teams. “They went all out to see that things worked, and they did,” she said.

Another friend on spot was the inimitable Phillip Mascoll, journalist and Jamaican to the core. He resides in Toronto, where he’s pursued his career for many years. He is a regular visitor home, a dedicated worker for the Diaspora cause, and a top-level member of the Canadian delegation. On Wednesday, the final round of the conference, Mascoll summed up the event as being different from the other conferences before this. How so? This one was action-oriented for Jamaicans at home and abroad.

The family of our people who live abroad, from North America to the United Kingdom, from Europe to Africa was well represented in Montego Bay over recent days. Despite snide politician-uttered comments that the participants had come here just to have a good time, I learned that the sessions facilitated some serious discussion on a range of topics. The issues were given full attention with appropriate time for relaxation, which is standard at conventions everywhere. The reason for bad-mouthing is not clear.

There were differences of opinion, of course; it is expected when Jamaicans gather. We love argument. My source said that overall, there was consensus. It is time to get real. A large chunk of our population resides overseas and many are doing well. Get them to invest in the land of their birth.

Pie in the sky? Pipe dreams? Smoke and mirrors? It could be, if we don’t get real and move forward. Other Diaspora Conferences have been held here before, but can we say we’ve been satisfied with the outcome? This time, however, there seems to be determination that it cannot be business as usual. If we can’t save ourselves, who will?

Delegates to the conference came from far and wide. The UK had some of the more mature participants, some of whom had not been back here in the longest while. The Canadians included young future leaders who were hungry for information about their Jamaican connection. For the Americans, home has never been far away. They want to see things moving faster. So now it’s time to cut the red tape, curb the corruption and settle down to real business. It is time to focus.

It would be no surprise if there are reservations about the ability of our overseas family to back us through these difficult times, but we have to trust each other. They too must be wondering if we are serious. On both sides of the fence, we’ve got to disabuse ourselves of the idea that we can treat investment by our family overseas, without according ourselves the respect we give to other people. Level the playing field all round.

We’re not going to get away with “digging out the eyes” of our people who come back to do business. We’d better wake up to the fact that they are not naïve. They will not settle for carry-down and bribery. Corruption and crime were the twin evils most complained about, I’m told. The Government had better be prepared to clean house in the public institutions which are charged with effecting development.

It is time for introspection about our role and our vision. The counterproductive attitude will have to be left behind. People coming in to do business should know that Jamaica has moved way beyond old times when the latest trends in everything from fashion to technology took a long time to reach here. It is no longer so. We are more sophisticated than we appear. We will have to learn together, working on equal ground. This might be our last chance to do so, Jah guide!

WHO SPEAKS FOR US? Where did the impression come from that all our diplomatic representatives abroad have to do is profile at cocktail parties, live well and go shopping? There is need for public education on what ambassadors, high commissioners, honorary consuls and others do.

There is room for clearing up the misunderstandings which exist. Believe it or not, our diplomatic representatives have to work hard to satisfy the demands of our people abroad as well as maintain our place in the host community. We owe much to the honorary consuls especially. They are philanthropic Jamaicans who work without pay, tending to our business at their own expense — a fact which many people do not know and cannot imagine.

One such, Vin Martin, was a recipient of the Governor General’s Diaspora Award of Excellence, which was presented at the conference on Wednesday. He has given 16 years of devotion to our Jamaican community in Atlanta, while balancing responsibilities as an attorney. Now he is retiring. Salute to all who bring honour to Jamaica. Respect!

gloudonb@yahoo.com