Smart countries cherish their Diaspora

In a week's time, the leaders of the Jamaican Diaspora will gather at the Jamaica Grande Hotel in the northcoast tourist resort town of Ocho Rios, St Ann for their biennial convention. It will be a make or break meeting of our nationals resident abroad.

It is unlikely that by the time they arrive, the rainwater from the current unstable weather would have dried up completely. But even then, the collateral damage, especially to our roadways, from the heavy downpour will still be evident.

We hope that just seeing their country in distress again will spark the well known nationalism in their breasts and that it will fuel their approach to the discussions they will hold on a wide variety of issues pertinent to Jamaica's development.

Otherwise, the foul mood and contentious lead up to the convention could very well result in a complete waste of time for the delegates and of taxpayers' money, if it is allowed to colour the talks and take centre stage.

Foreign Minister Dr Kenneth Baugh and his deputy, Mrs Marlene Malahoo-Forte had tried valiantly to paper over the cracks, but at the meeting they will need to do much more than that. The issues in dispute will have to be approached with seriousness and purposefulness.

Our Diaspora leaders have quarrelled that changes in the way members are selected to the Diaspora Boards were made without their agreement, and that the agenda of the convention, including the name change from conference, was crafted without their prior input.

Ministers Baugh and Malahoo-Forte seem to be saying that nothing was cast in stone and that all the disputed changes were agreed at previous conferences and meetings.

In matters like these, it is hardly worth ascribing blame. It is vastly more important to face the problems with honesty and forthrightness.

The attempt to forge an institution out of our Diaspora that can be mobilised, not only in times of disaster, but to invest and steer foreign investment to Jamaica, is always going to be a smart thing to do.

The Jamaican Diaspora has bailed out our economy during this recession by their high rate of remittances. Our nationals have shown that they have not cut the umbilical cord, even though they have no vote in elections and even though those with dual citizenship outside the British Commonwealth cannot hold a seat in the Parliament.

In that regard, it is not too much to ask that they be accorded all the civilities we so easily offer to other visiting nationalities and to accommodate their desire to select their leadership and participate in deciding what they discuss at this two-yearly get-together.

The worst we can do is to take them for granted.