Diaspora Conference kicks off in days but agenda concerns linger

NEW YORK:

The 11th biennial Diaspora Conference is set to kick off in just four days, but some potential attendees have expressed concern about the lack of specifics concerning the agenda for the event.

Members of the Northeast Health Committee have pointed to the lack of specifics on the agenda regarding moderators and panellists, especially in the area of health.

 “I don’t know what is happening as there is no list of speakers and moderators for the heath sector,” said Dr Robert Clarke. “In the past, I have been one of the speakers on health but we have had no information about who will make up the panels. I have reached out to the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but have had no call back.”

Clarke, who heads Jamaica Medical Mission and who will be attending the conference, told The Gleaner that he has some 12 people from his group confirmed for the conference but finds it strange that no panellists have been listed on the agenda.

Claudette Powell, another member of the Northeast Health Committee, has also expressed her concerns about the lack of published panellists for the conference.

”I am very concerned about the lack of [knowledge] who the panellists are, who the moderators are, and what are the areas for discussion,” she said

Powell said that he has a number of nurses slated to attend the conference, some for the first time, but the lack of specifics on the conference agenda, has some people unsure about attending the conference.

“I cannot give information to them about the speakers when asked,” she said.

A check on the ministry’s website shows an agenda but no listed speakers.

For day one of the conference, June 15, the agenda lists registration, marketplace and government at your service. The agenda says that participants will have the opportunity to visit booths and stalls from public and private sectors.

It says that the opening segment will feature welcome and remarks from key stakeholders but does not list them.

The plenary session on Mobilizing the Diaspora Trade and Investment for a resilient Jamaica also does not list speakers and panellists.

The Governor General’s Diaspora Achievement Awards will be presented on day one of the conference.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness will give the keynote address on Day Two of the conference.

Global Diaspora Council Member for the Northeast, Michelle Tulloch Neil, told The Gleaner that she has about 100 people registered to attend the conference.

She said that enthusiasm for the conference is high as she has been fielding inquiries from people about the conference.

“I have been sending out information on a daily basis to various people who have reached out about the conference,” she said.

Dr B. Roy Davidson, Global Diaspora Council member for the West/Midwest, said he has about 95 people confirmed to attend the conference.

Jamaica’s honorary consul in Texas, Khalfoni Fullerton, said that he will be attending the conference and expects about 10 or more people from the Texas region to attend.

However, he told The Gleaner that some people to whom he has reached dicided not to attend the conference because they said that having attended in the past, there has been no implementation of the agreed proposals.

The conference runs from June 14-18 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James.