Third Biennial Jamaican Diaspora UK Conference 
Hotel Novotel London West, Hammersmith, London, 16 June 2012

Registration for this year’s Jamaica Diaspora UK Conference is going well with scores of persons taking advantage of the ‘Early Bird’ Registration discounts. The conference is scheduled for Jamaica Diaspora Day, Saturday 16 June at the Noveltel Hotel in London.

The conference has already received resounding community approval and recently hosted a successful a press launch in Birmingham where the Jamaican Diaspora UK Chair, Bentley Cunningham and Public Relations Officer and Conference Organiser Sasha Henry-Crawford, set out plans for what they said will be the most successful Conference yet.

The Jamaican community is encouraged to take full advantage of the discount on early registrations which continue until 5 June, as they expect the Conference to be fully booked, especially with the new High Commissioner's confirmed arrival in the UK later this month.  The conference will feature twelve workshops discussing a wide range of issues such as: how to cut through the red tape and better access services in Jamaica; improving the effectiveness of the Diaspora movement; empowering and enabling young people into employment; and what does it mean for Jamaicans should the country become a Republic if the country follows through with the announced plans to remove the Queen as Head of State.

Board Chairman, Mr. Bentley Cunningham said the UK Diaspora intends to set up an All Party lobby group to speak on behalf of Jamaicans in the UK. Mrs.  Sasha Henry-Crawford, Conference Organiser emphasized the need for the Conference to deliver tangible outcomes, such as an action plan for the UK Diaspora for 2012-2015.

The Jamaican Diaspora UK Conference is being supported and endorsed by major Jamaican businesses, multi-national organisations and Jamaican agencies including: Ezetop; Jamaica Tourist Board, Jampro, Victoria Mutual, Grace Foods, MoneyGram, The Gleaner/Voice media Group; Lime; Transpakship and Birmingham City Council.

The message is: Play your Part - Get Involved; whether through simply participating as a delegate through volunteering, being a sponsor or exhibitor on Diaspora Day 16 June. You too can make a difference for Jamaica and Jamaicans in the UK.

For details on how to get involved, visit the website:www.jadiasporaukconference.net, email:info@jadiasporaukconference.net or telephone the Conference lines: +44 (0) 7931 216707 or +44 (0) 8442448298.
  
NOTE TO EDITOR 
 
In June 2004 more than 250 Jamaicans from the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada and Jamaica held a major conference to discuss some of the key issues affecting Jamaicans at home and in the Diaspora.  This gathering, referred to as the 1st Jamaican Diaspora Conference was hosted by the Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.  The two distinct accomplishments of this first gathering were: the formation of Jamaican Diaspora Groups in the UK, USA and Canada and the declaration of June 16th as Jamaican Diaspora Day.  The Jamaican Diaspora UK (JDUK) was subsequently launched in 2005 through a series of events across the country.