Strong support for Diaspora Conference in western Ja
There is strong public and private sector support from western Jamaica for the sixth staging of the Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, scheduled for June 13 and 18 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.
President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) Nathan Robb has thrown the support of the business sector behind the event.
“The last one was indeed very, very encouraging from many points of view in terms of the prospects that it held, not just for the Diaspora, but for Jamaicans. And so this sixth biennial, I would say is even more significant because it is in fact building on what we have already accomplished. The chamber of commerce therefore, as we did the last time, truly endorse the biennial conference,” Robb declared.
Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay Michael Troupe also expressed the St James Parish Council’s support for the event.
Troupe announced that the council will be arranging an entertainment event, especially for attendees to the conference.
“We are eager to participate in this event and are ready and proud to be the hosting city. We believe that occasions like these form the foundation for stronger bonding opportunities for our citizens,” he said.
“Aside from formalities that form part of the structure of the event, we are making plans to host a Diaspora Night Out, an event that will form part of our entertainment offering.”
Both Robb and Troupe were speaking at the sixth Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference western region stakeholder briefing held at the Hilton Rose Hall Resorts and Spa on Monday.
Guest speaker, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Arnaldo Brown said he was hopeful that this year’s staging of the event will surpass the success of the 2013 event.
“Twenty thirteen was a resounding success. We had over 1,500 participants involved in the conference and this year we are hoping to increase those numbers by 500,” he said confidently.
He added that of the 2,000 targeted participants this year, at least 50 per cent of them are expected to come from the Diaspora.
