DIASPORA DUEL

A letter sent to Audrey Marks, Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States, by members of the diaspora giving notice of a countrywide protest, has stirred unease among other Jamaicans domiciled overseas who believe that its contents could harm the country’s reputation.

The undated letter outlines several concerns, including “the increasing state of public corruption; the high level of violent crime; the [Government’s] failure to provide promised service delivery; unfulfilled promises to the diaspora regarding its involvement in the political process; and the legal defence that diaspora members do not have standing to sue the Government”.

It came above the signature of Dr Rupert Francis, who was identified as chairman of the Jamaica Diaspora Crime Intervention & Prevention task force.

According to the retired Jamaica Defence Force captain, the letter was written on behalf of concerned Jamaicans living in Jamaica and the diaspora and is a call to action.

“ I wish to inform you, and by extension, the Jamaican Government, that the diaspora will engage Jamaica’s international partners to seek redress of our grievances. These international partners will include donor countries and organisations and Congressional/Parliamentary committees,” Francis wrote in the letter.

Further, he said some members of the diaspora will “legally and peacefully” conduct protests at Jamaican embassies, consulates, and other government offices in the US, the UK, and Canada, which is expected to garner the attention of international media.

“Regretfully, the Jamaican Government has forced the diaspora, its largest source of foreign exchange, to take these unprecedented actions in the best interest of Jamaica and its people – at home and abroad,” said Francis, who lives in the US.

However, the plan has received pushback from other members of the diaspora, who have argued that while some of the concerns are valid, public protests and advocacy to block donor funds to the island are the wrong ways to have them addressed.

Nathaniel Peat, the elected representative for UK South of the Global Jamaica Council, told The Gleaner yesterday that the letter, which has been widely circulated on social media, undermines efforts to solicit investments.

“The linkages which I’m creating in the diaspora right now around investment from Jamaican entrepreneurs, this will destroy all of that work,” Peat said.

“I don’t agree with what Rupert has done. Why are you going to pull away support from Jamaica? That goes against the National Diaspora policy. And why right now when Jamaica is at its greatest need in terms of support for youth, education, prisoners?” he questioned.

Peat said international donors contribute millions of dollars to the country and any lobbying for the removal of that would hurt Jamaicans.

The letter, he said, will create a negative perception of Jamaica at a time when it needs all the help it can get.

He insisted that the letter be withdrawn, noting that the Holness Administration’s engagement with the diaspora has resulted in previously unseen support.

“We recognise that there are issues of corruption. Of course we recognise that there are issues of crime and violence. Of course, we recognise that there are issues with education. But this is where we have to build the country with our capacity as Jamaicans living overseas. To help with best practices and to invest in those start-up entrepreneurs,” said Peat.

State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Alando Terrelonge, who spoke to The Gleaner yesterday, said members of the diaspora have expressed shock at the contents of the letter amid the “unprecedented” level of engagement they have had with the Government over the last five years.

He said that these engagements have been facilitated through the formation of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council and the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council.

“Members of the council have expressed their disapproval of the use of the logo. They have expressed that they have not authorised the use of their logo in this manner, and certainly, they find it inappropriate,” said Terrelonge.

He said that over the last two years, the Government has increased the number of council members from eight to 30, which has widened representation within the diaspora.

Approximately 1.1 million Jamaicans are domiciled overseas, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Population Division (2020), with women accounting for 57.5 per cent of that figure.

Calling the diaspora a strategic partner, the minister said that the Government has met with members in several countries, via teleconferences and other avenues, to broaden its engagement.

“Our mission is to engage the diaspora, connect with the diaspora, and empower the diaspora not only in terms of how they relate to Jamaica, but also in terms of empowering them in their own community,” he said, pointing to the assistance provided to them via embassies and high commissions.

He said that the Government has also supported the missions of several members of the diaspora to the island and has, through the Ministry of Finance, granted waivers.

“So it certainly has been an engaging process over the last two years,” he said.

Still, Francis argued that the letter was long in coming but due, noting that there must be change in the country moving forward.

He said the engagement with the diaspora is insufficient and that the diaspora policy has not been “truly effective” over the years.

“As a result of that, we have not seen the growth between diaspora issues and policies. It has just been in limbo. There is so much potential, apart from remittance,” he said.

He argued that there needs to be greater reliance on the diaspora, whose members have had “tremendous” exposure to different services and have acquired skill sets that could assist in making Jamaica better.

He dismissed suggestions that his motives may be political, asserting that he is considered a member of the current Government in the eyes of many.

“I used to be involved in politics in Jamaica for a while and for this Government in particular. So why would I be political about this now? We’re looking for betterment. We want to reduce the crime and violence. We want to reduce the corruption. We want to improve education. We want to get our monies’ worth out of our raw materials. We want to export more and import less. Young people need opportunities.

“It’s to build Jamaica. I love Jamaica more than I love myself,” said Francis.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com