Jamaica's Election 2007 Forum

Jamaica elections 2007 made its stop in South Florida with the two parties being represented for a debate/question and answer from the Jamaican Diaspora living in the area. I will not comment on the debate itself but I will make a few observations.
Jamaica is right up there with the technologically advanced what with the proceedings being made available on Youtube and viewers having the ability to join in via the Internet courtesy of Jamaicans.com.
Also, no matter who wins the elections come August 27th the Jamaican Diaspora will play a huge role in the Jamaican economy. And I say this without consideration to what both representatives may have said at the forum. With a huge amount of remittances being sent to the island, the Diaspora influence will be there. Now, it remains to be seen how this cash source can be translated into direct investment in the Jamaican economy.
Here are a few articles that I found that covered the event: the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald and South Florida Caribbean News. If I come across any more, I will post.

JA Elections 07

Below is the reminder about the Town Hall meeting before the elections in Jamaica. It looks like both parties are taking it seriously. I think it is interesting who are being sent as representatives. Mr. Paulwell is the Minister of Industry, Commerce, Science and Technology and Mr. Bartlett is the Opposition Spokesperson on Diaspora Affairs and Tourism.

I am not advocating either party but am glad to see there is an emphasis on commerce related matters judging from the representatives chosen. A wide cross section of the diaspora are interested in business linkages with JA and hopefully these gentlemen can expand on that.

Other hot button topics are sure to be crime and education. Should be interesting to see what weight the diaspora will have if any. I do think it is admirable that both groups are seeking to dialogue with the diaspora. That can only be a good thing. Hopefully, this is not just a token gesture.



Thursday, July 26, 2007, 6pm -------- MIRAMAR, FLORIDA
Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States
Community Conversation & Town Hall Meeting
“Elections 2007: Our Vision for Jamaica’s Future”
Miramar Town Center Hall
2300 Civic Center Place, Miramar
A conversational town hall meeting to share and discuss any and all issues facing the discourse and decisions for the upcoming elections (August 27th) in Jamaica
Welcoming Party representatives:
Hon. Phillip Paulwell: Minister of Industry, Commerce, Science & Technology and parliamentary representative for East Kingston/Port Royal (People's National Party - www.pnpjamaica.com)
and
Hon. Edmund Bartlett: Ed Bartlett, Opposition Spokesman on Tourism & Diaspora Affairs and parliamentary representative for East Central St. James (Jamaica Labour Party - www.thejlp.org)
Media and community leaders, and THE VOICE and INPUT of Jamaicans in the Diaspora
For more information call: 786-349-2584 or info@marlonhill.com
Live Online Chat Room during the Forum @ http://www.jamaicans.com (Submit your questions or comment today)
Live results of the elections will also be broadcast on News/Talk 1080 AM WTPS - Monday night, August 27th - http://www.wtps1080am.com

Forum on National Elections in JA

I recieved this earlier this week about the Jamaican Diaspora meeting in South Floida. Might turn out to be very interesting with elections is JA on the horizon...................


JAMAICAN DIASPORA SOUTHERN U.S. TO HOST
FORUM ON NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN JAMAICA

The Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States will host a Community Conversation and Town Hall Meeting, titled “Elections 2007: Our Vision for Jamaica’s Future”, on Thursday, July 26, 2007, 6pm to 8:30pm, at the City of Miramar City Hall, 2300 Civic Center Place in Miramar. The Town Hall meeting will welcome a community conversation with invited representatives from Jamaica’s two main political parties, the People’s National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), local media and community leaders, and the voice and input of Jamaicans in the Diaspora.
“Jamaicans in the Diaspora are not constitutionally eligible to vote in national elections, but our ongoing voice and contributions to the development of Jamaica should certainly be embraced in the national discourse of the choice of leadership and issues related to the future direction of the nation . We intend to approach our civic engagement in a proactive manner,” stated Marlon Hill, Jamaican Diaspora Advisory Board Member for the Southern United States.
On Sunday night, July 8, 2007, at a mass rally in Half-Way Tree, Kingston, after announcing all parliamentary candidates, Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller announced that nominations will take place on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 and national elections officially on Monday, August 27, 2007.
Print, radio, and internet media partners in the local South Florida community are expected to play an integral role in facilitating the format and content of the forum. The public is welcome to participate.
“The engagement of the citizens of any nation is the bedrock of the democratic process. For Jamaicans, this is just as important for those who are on island and those living overseas. We hope that this town hall meeting will open the dialogue of the elections in Jamaica,” stated Winston Barnes, Commissioner, City of Miramar and renowned broadcaster with WAVS 1170AM and formerly with RJR Jamaica.
"I believe this town hall meeting will be a great opportunity for the online users in the Jamaica diaspora to ask the representatives of both parties questions in an informal setting and to discuss issues of importance to all Jamaicans wherever they may reside," stated Xavier Murphy, webmaster of Jamaicans.Com, a website community for Jamaicans worldwide.
Community Partners include the City of Miramar, Air Jamaica, Infinite Markets, My Virtual Office, HOT 105, News/Talk 1080AM WTPS, WAVS 1170AM, Mystik 1400AM, Jamaicans.com, SouthFloridaCaribbeanNews.Com, Caribbean National Weekly, Caribbean Today, Caribbean-American Commentary, The Miami Herald, Miami Gardens Observer, Sun-Sentinel, among others. For more information on the Town Hall Meeting on the upcoming national elections at the Miramar Town Center, call 786-349-2584 or email info@marlonhill.com.
The Jamaican Diaspora includes all Jamaican nationals and persons of Jamaican heritage (their family and friends) who reside overseas around the world, including the Southern United States. The Jamaican Diaspora Movement is a historic opportunity to unite and galvanize all Jamaicans, their talents, resources, and potential throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and around the world for the benefit of their local communities and the future development and support of Jamaica. For more information on the Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States, call 786-349-2584 (U.S.) ● 876-621-0102 (Jamaica) ● Facsimile: 786-551-0785 or email: info@marlonhill.com.