The chances of Jamaica’s two main political leaders working together to counter negative information about the country may seem slim at this stage, but that did not stop Prime Minister Andrew Holness from throwing out the challenge to Opposition Leader Mark Golding last Friday.

Giving the main address at the global launch of this year’s Jamaica Diaspora Conference at the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade building in downtown Kingston, Holness suggested that the love for the country exhibited by Jamaicans he had met in the Diaspora is an asset that could be used to help reduce the activities that are holding back the island.

“It is an asset that we have; this Jamaica. And, if we could just find that right formula, right, Mark? Let’s work together in the 60th year to find that formula,” Holness said.

The suggestion left guests at the launch quiet for a few seconds, followed by laughter and eventually the round of applause that the prime minister was obviously anticipating.

Golding, who was not on the programme to speak, smiled at the idea as the audience cheered.

The conference launch featured speeches focusing on the endemic support from the Diaspora for the Jamaican economy, partly through remittances, as well as their patriotism.

Holness noted that, as the country commemorates its Diamond Jubilee, like other countries around the world it is being impacted by external shocks “brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the abhorrent war in the Ukraine”.

“These are challenging times,” Holness said. “And if we have learnt anything from the past 60 years, it is that, in true Jamaican spirit, we must strengthen our resolve to build that which works, that which offers prospects for progress and that which nurtures the human spirit and leaves us to chart better pathways for our collective development.”

He said that the national motto, ‘Out of many, one people’, should remind Jamaicans that it is a composite of people from different groups and different countries who have come together to make the island their home.

“In the circle of life, it is from among these people that some have left our shores and gone elsewhere, in fact all over the world, to settle and thrive and still they call this little rock their home,” he stated.

He said that the biannual conference is fuelled by the generosity of spirit and concern for Jamaica, especially over the past two years, and the Government recognises that loyalty and contribution.

“It’s annoying when we go overseas and we meet members of the Diaspora; they will tell you first of all how much they love Jamaica but, like all of us, are frustrated with the challenges that we face. And if we are able to conquer these challenges there would be nothing to stop Jamaica from fulfilling its destiny,” Holness said.

He said that the country must use the opportunity “to thank, commend, acknowledge, embrace, pay respect and display our love for the Diaspora, as they continue to support Jamaica. Even as they work in their new homes they continue to ensure that we who are back at home can survive”.

Conference Chairman Don Wehby, group CEO of GraceKennedy, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith also paid tribute to the interest shown to the issues affecting Jamaica by the Diaspora, including increasing their remittances during the pandemic.

The Diaspora Conference, scheduled for Kingston June 14-16, is being held under the theme ‘Reigniting a Nation for Greatness’.

The legacy partners are GraceKennedy Group; Jamaica National Group; and VM Group. The Government expects that the conference will attract some 5,000 Jamaicans.