Minister Alando Terrelonge Bats for the Involvement of Youth in Diaspora Engagement

 By Neil Armstrong

Alando Terrelonge, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and minister with responsibility for diaspora affairs, with emcee, Danae Peart

 

Jamaica’s minister of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Alando Terrelonge, and chair of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, believes youth, who he calls young kings and queens, can positively impact development once given the appropriate resources and opportunities. 

 

He was the keynote speaker at the Regional Jamaica Diaspora Conference (Canada) 2023 held at the Ebenezer Holiness Church of God in Toronto on September 23, with satellite venues in Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver where he expounded on the theme of the gathering — engagement, collaboration and action.

 

 

“Sustainability of the diaspora movement and fostering affinity among the over 104,000 second-generation Jamaicans and over 42, 000 third-generation Jamaicans as well as fourth-generation Jamaicans here in Canada is therefore critically important as the demographics of the community continue to evolve,” said Terrelonge who was on his first official visit to Canada as minister of state with responsibility for diaspora affairs. He was introduced by Marsha Coore-Lobban, the new high commissioner of Jamaica to Canada.

 

 

“If we fail to involve the youth of Canada of Jamaican descent then we will continue, and if we continue to lose more stalwarts, as they continue to grow older, then it means that we would have failed to continue their legacy.”

 

He underscored the importance of Jamaicans involving their children and grandchildren so that they can continue the legacy of their forefathers. 

 

The minister noted that they have recognized through the first term of the council some of the specific issues in which the youth cohort has demonstrated key interest and plan to participate.

 

These include education, sports, technology, tourism, investment opportunities, innovation, and the creative arts. As a result, his ministry has deliberately engaged the ministries of tourism, culture, gender, entertainment and sport, and industry, investment and commerce to leverage their assets to anticipate the work by the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council as mandated by the National Diaspora Policy. 

 

He said leveraging technology is a key enabler for diaspora engagement and as they continue that approach, they must recognize that technology is one way to get everyone’s involvement. 

 

Minister Terrelonge said there is a digital registration portal being developed in partnership with the International Development Bank and is slated for public testing later this year.

 

“We anticipate that the portal will be publicly launched at the upcoming tenth biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference scheduled for June in Jamaica, 2024. As one of the deliverables emerging from the Diaspora Policy, you’ll be pleased to note that this portal will provide tailored services, including outreach activities, social and economic engagement as well as streamlined data access and collection to Jamaicans in the diaspora in concert with Jamaican ministries, departments and agencies. 

 

The minister assured that the information will be confidentially held and stored in a safe environment. Speaking on the Jamaica Diaspora Engagement Model (JAMDEM), he said it is a bespoke investment portal developed in partnership with the International Organization for Migration. 

 

In extending the welcome, Dr. Sylvanus Thompson, chair of the Regional Jamaica Diaspora Planning Committee, said the Jamaican diaspora in Canada is “a living testament to the resilience, strength, and creativity of our people.” 

 

“It is a community of close to 250, 000 persons, that has flourished, adapting to new environments while holding steadfast to the vibrant traditions and rich cultural heritage of Jamaica. Our presence here is a living bridge between two nations, a bridge built on the pillars of unity, opportunity, and mutual respect. Our cultural heritage is a beacon that guides us, no matter where we are in the world. This conference provides a platform to celebrate our traditions, share our stories, and foster cultural exchanges.”

 

Thompson noted that the aim of the conference was to bring together individuals from the Jamaican diaspora across Canada to celebrate their shared heritage, promote cultural understanding, and explore opportunities for collaboration and growth. It sought to provide a platform for participants to engage in meaningful discussions and collective actions about important issues impacting Jamaican Canadians, share knowledge, and exchange ideas.

 

“This event will emphasize the importance of unity, cultural diversity, and the power of connections in building a vibrant and prosperous diaspora community. Furthermore, by fostering connections among participants, the conference will aim to inspire collaboration, and encourage entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Thompson. 

Left to right: Dr. Orville Grey, Dr. Hugh Simmonds and Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica

 

The regional conference also featured a fireside chat with minister of tourism Edmund Bartlett, Dr. Orville Grey and moderator Dr. Hugh Simmonds about the future of tourism, sustainability and the challenge of climate change; the workshop on the impact of racism and discrimination on Jamaican Canadians panel included Kathy McDonald and Bishop Glenford Duffus moderated by Dave D’Oyen; the one on challenges and opportunities of healthcare in Jamaica featured Dr. Upton Allen, Dr. Hamlet Nation and Jennifer Dockery; the panelists for the crime and the justice system workshop were Peter Sloly and David Mitchell moderated by Capt. Kevin Junor;  and the session on education and the diaspora’s role in preparing Jamaican students for the future included Luther Brown, Rhona Dunwell and moderator Kashane Denton; and moderator Adaoma Patterson led the closing plenary session examining “where do we go from here?”

 

Dr. Thompson noted that the issues discussed at the conference under the theme “engagement, collaboration and action” were identified through a community engagement survey in areas such as healthcare, crime and the justice system, education and the future of tourism. 

 

With respect to economic empowerment, he said those in attendance heard from Rezworth Burchenson, senior vice president and member of the executive leadership team of the VM Group, about investment opportunities in Jamaica and the presentation was repeated to Jamaicans in western Canada later that day. Lisa Rutty was the moderator.

Left to right: Donnovan Simon, Audrey Campbell and Adaoma Patterson

Adaoma Patterson and Danae Peart

 

The new consul-general at Toronto, Kurt Davis, sang the Jamaican anthem alongside consul Younna Bailey-Magalhaes while Mark Henry of Montreal sang the Canadian anthem virtually. The emcee for the opening ceremony was Danae Peart, Bishop Glenford Duffus, a member of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, offered the prayer, and there was a dance performance by the Ebenezer Holiness Church Youth Group.