KINGSTON Jamaica – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, has reiterated the Government’s appreciation of the Jamaican Diaspora’s critical role in national development and their assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the Jamaica Diamond Jubilee Gala in New York City (NYC), the Minister said, “The Government and people of Jamaica are grateful to Jamaicans in the Diaspora and friends of Jamaica, for your enduring partnerships that provide invaluable assistance to our nation, particularly during periods of global uncertainty.”

Expressing special pleasure at recognising, during the Independence period, the contributions of Diasporans and Friends of Jamaica currently contributing to nation-building, the Minister congratulated the evening’s honorees: Monty Alexander; Basil Anderson; Jeffrey Flaks, Dr Sandra Lindsay, Mark Newman and Maurice Wright.

Johnson Smith also reflected on the significance of the Diamond Jubilee to the Diaspora.

“Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of independence is a remarkable milestone which reflects on the challenges navigated and the tremendous progress made as a nation. The Diamond Jubilee theme, ‘Reigniting a Nation for Greatness’, was chosen to harness our collective energies as Jamaica seeks to emerge from the pandemic stronger and indeed greater,” the Minister said.

“Just as New York City never sleeps, so the greatness of Jamaicans never sleeps, whether on the track, in the boardroom, in the studio, in the classroom, the hospital, the State Legislature, the diplomatic corps, the Congress, or the White House. Wherever we are, our hallmark is greatness. We must therefore continue to strive for the connections that synergize our extensive individual capacities to make our nation even greater,” she added.

The Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister was addressing an audience that included Jamaica’s Consul General in NYC, Alison Roach Wilson; Representative Yvette Clarke, United States Congresswoman; Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams; Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Brian Wallace; Ambassador of the US to Jamaica, Nick Perry; Shawyn Patterson-Howard, the first female Mayor of Mount Vernon, NYC; Brenda LaGrange-Johnson, former US Ambassador to Jamaica and Patron; and Donovan Richards, Queens Borough President.

Also, of great significance to Jamaica and the Diaspora, is that the proceeds from this gala will be donated to the Jamaica’s Promise Foundation to purchase six haemodialysis machines as well as funding tertiary scholarships and violence interruption programmes in Jamaica. Proceeds will also support community health efforts in the Bronx, NYC.