Ocho Rios, St Ann— Irwine Clare Snr, founder and CEO of Team Jamaica Bickle Inc, is indicating that the Jamaican Diaspora is ready to partner with Jamaica, but has questioned whether or not Jamaica is ready to accommodate such a partnership.

“The Diaspora is ready to partner with Jamaica. Is Jamaica ready?” asked Clare who was guest speaker at the St Ann Homecoming and Heritage Foundation annual awards banquet held at the Sunset Jamaica Grand Resort in Ocho Rios on Saturday, August 9. Clare who was also honoured by the Foundation which is celebrating its 10th anniversary said Jamaicans living overseas are dedicated to the country; however, there is a trust issue between Jamaica and members of the Diaspora which needs to be dealt with.

“We love Jamaica; we are very patriotic about Jamaica. We consider ourselves the vanguard of brand Jamaica; however, there is a trust deficit that is between you and us and us and you,” Clare stated.

Clare who was born and raised in Bamboo, St Ann said the Diaspora should be engaged by Jamaica and that whenever positions become available in Jamaica, members of the Diaspora should also be considered to fill such positions.

“It’s not to say that we are looking for handouts, but if the Diaspora is to be considered important…there are positions in this land, in this country that when they become available, should also be available to qualified and interested Jamaicans in the Diaspora,” he stated.

Stating that members of the Diaspora are ready to be engaged, Clare said Jamaicans should be careful in using the term foreigners to refer to Jamaicans living overseas.

“Yes, we are ready and we must be engaged,” he told residents and key stakeholders in St Ann attending the awards banquet.

Clare, who is also managing director of Caribbean Immigrant Service, added, “It’s a partnership. We do not want to come down here and take over (and it should not be the case); it is about collaborative endeavours, partnerships; there is no way that we can all eat the pie all by ourselves. Give a slice sometimes to somebody else. Yield a slice.”

He said Jamaica needs to appreciate a new paradigm in remittance to the country, in the form of human capital. Clare said a part from the recorded US$2 billion sent home in remittance annually, persons have also been returning with experience and wealth and are investing in the country.

“The so called brain-drain has become net gain,” the man at the helm of two US based organizations providing assistance to Caribbean nationals stated.

BY RENAE DIXON

OBSERVER STAFF WRITER