By Neil Armstrong

Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Canada, Marsha Coore Lobban, has been very busy since her tenure started in September 2023, and now her focus is on the upcoming 10^th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from June 16-19, under the theme, “United for Jamaica’s Transformation: Fostering Peace, Productivity, and Youth Empowerment.” The Diaspora Day of Service will be held on June 20.

Shortly after she assumed office, the diplomat took over the baton from her predecessors Sharon Miller and consul general Lincoln Downer, and provided support to the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council that organized the Regional Diaspora Conference.

Soon after that, she was preparing for the CARICOM-Canada Summit which was over 10-years-in-the-making and was a historical moment because it was the first time it was being held in Ottawa. They hosted Jamaica’s prime minister and minister and held another town hall. 

“It was a deep dive; thankful for the 27 years of experience having served both HQ and overseas, especially Washington, that prepared me to jump in straight up, pull up sleeve and just get what we needed done immediately.”

While acknowledging that many times it appears as if more attention is given to the diasporans in Ontario and Montreal, Coore Lobban said the consulate is in Toronto to support the over 200,000 Jamaicans there.

“But our commission, in terms of the high commission, is here to protect and to be there for diasporans across the length and breadth of Canada.”

Coore Lobban has reached out to community leaders in other provinces and spoken to honorary consuls. They have set up a group base and hope to have monthly meetings about what is going on, hear concerns, and try to get information out to communities, especially those further from the reach of the high commission.

Coore Lobban plans to visit some of these areas during this year. “We have been working with our Global Diaspora Council members, including the youth representative who is in Toronto, to see how we can reach out and have webinars and just engage.”

She said even when Jamaicans migrate, they do not leave their identity behind, wherever they are they identify as Jamaicans which is visible when there are cultural events and celebrations.

“The diaspora conference allows for us to engage, hear from diasporans to see how we can work together, how we can strengthen the alliance,” she said, noting that some want to vote and have more say in what is happening in the country, and there are others who are supporting their families and have a keen interest in what happens there.

Many alumni organizations are supporting their alma maters and community.

Hosted by the government, the biennial conference which has been happening for 20 years, allows Jamaicans to return to “engage on issues of importance, what is going on in Jamaica and share your concerns.”

Coore-Lobban said there are Jamaicans who have migrated and are grappling with the settling process, so the strategy has been to have the biennial conference in Jamaica and the regional conference, which is held every other year in the respective regions “which is to allow the Jamaican diasporans there in the respective communities to see how do we address the challenges confronting us here in these respective jurisdictions.”

The global launch of the conference will be held on April 4 in Jamaica and simulcast to 24 cities around the world.