Jamaica parliamentary diaspora body to meet on key issues

(Jamaica Gleaner) Jamaicans from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States are expected to make presentations to a parliamentary committee dealing with issues affecting the diaspora next month.

The Diaspora Affairs Committee says it will invite select members of the diaspora to address the committee in late January, 2010.

Chairman of the committee, Dr Ronald Robinson, said that select members of the diaspora would be in the island late January to attend other events.

While here, the group will appear before the committee to discuss a range of burning issues.

Robinson, who is also state minister for foreign affairs and foreign trade, said the members of the diaspora visiting Jamaica would address three main subjects.

The areas for consideration include constitutional review of the issue of dual citizenship, voting rights in Jamaica for members of the diaspora, and parliamentary representation, particularly as it relates to the appointment of a ‘diaspora senator’.

The committee is also planning to invite members of the public to participate in the talks.

Committee member Maxine Henry-Wilson wants the committee to invite persons from the legal reform unit to make presentations on the areas of concern.