THE global launch for the 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference will take place on Thursday, April 4 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in downtown Kingston.

Biennial conference chair, Courtney Campbell, who is president and CEO of the VM Group, told JIS News that the purpose of the launch is “to tell all our non-resident Jamaicans about the upcoming diaspora conference”.

The four-day conference will take place at Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James from June 16 to 19, under the theme ‘United for Jamaica’s transformation: fostering peace, productivity and youth empowerment’. It will be the first in-person conference since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Campbell encouraged Jamaicans abroad and at home to log on to the virtual launch.

“This is a special diaspora conference, so it is important that all our people in the diaspora who may be interested in attending the conference are empowered with information that they need to register and plan for a productive engagement in Jamaica,” he said.

“We are looking forward to sharing this information at the launch with those who have attended previous diaspora conferences and potential first-time participants, third- and fourth-generation diasporans; our young professionals; entrepreneurs and business leaders; those in the cultural and artistic community; our philanthropists and donors and our community pillars,” he added.

Jamaica, Campbell stressed, needs the full involvement of the diaspora.

“If Jamaica is to prosper and realise our full potential as a nation, we will need the full involvement of our diaspora in the economic, social and cultural life of Jamaica,” he pointed out.

Speaking at a recent virtual ceremony to honour Jamaican pioneers in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America, minister of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Alando Terrelonge said the ministry and team members are working to design “an exciting programme of activities” for the conference.

“The team at the ministry and our missions in the USA are part of a dedicated group, along with members of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council and Global Diaspora Youth Council and other stakeholders who are working hard behind the scenes to ensure that it is worth your while,” he said.