Parliament to establish Diaspora Committee

Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

A parliamentary committee is to be established to suggest ways to greater involve the Diaspora in Jamaican affairs.

The committee, to be chaired by junior foreign affairs minister Arnaldo Brown, will comprise members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The committee will, among other things, be tasked with the responsibility of determining whether to recommend to constitutional amendments or policy considerations for allowing the Diaspora to be represented in the Parliament.

The House today approved the establishment of the Committee and confirmed Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill, Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams, Hugh Buchanan, Denise Daley, Ed Bartlett, Shahine Robinson and Desmond McKenzie as members of the committee.

The Senate will shortly name members to the committee.

In a motion to the House today, Brown said the committee would receive submission, hear testimony, evaluate research and engage in dialogue with relevant groups in the Diaspora with the aim of guiding a national approach on Diaspora matters.

The committee will also recommend foreign policy that could result in members of the Diaspora investing in Jamaica.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com