NEW YORK, June 10, 2010 - Targeting young people in the Diaspora in returning home and the need to maintain constant engagement, were among issues raised with Caribbean Tourism Ministers at a Diaspora Forum at the New York Helmsley Hotel on Wednesday.
Grenada’s Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Glynis Roberts, who was one of three regional ministers on the panel, said that the event provided an opportunity to continue the engagement with the Caribbean Diaspora.
“This was a useful engagement and I think we were able to dialogue on a number of issues,” Minister Roberts said in an interview following the forum.
“We also received criticisms and we have to see how best we could continue to engage the Diaspora”.
However, the Tourism Minister noted that Grenada has started the process and Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David has embarked on a number of outreach visits to the Diaspora.
“I believe the approach of engaging them at various stages will help crystallise the relationship,” she said.
In reacting to a suggestion from Grenadian student Andrea Church, one of two Grenadians who were on the three-member question panel, about the involvement of youth in the Diaspora the Minister agreed that they have an important role to play.
“They (young people) are the ones who will shape our Diaspora in the next five to 10 years and we need to maintain their involvement”.
The other Caribbean Ministers who participated were Glen Beache of St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Richard Sealy of Barbados while Bishop Dr. Ebony Kirkland, President/CEO of Ebony Marketing Research and Grenadian-born writer and special assistant to New York State Senate leader, John Sampson made up the panel.
Also attending were Consul General Derrick James; Minister Counsellor Michael Mitchell; Policy Advisor, Ministry of Tourism George Vincent and Grenada Board of Tourism, USA Christine Noel-Horsford.
The Diaspora Forum was part of Caribbean Week in New York, mounted by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO).
The week of activities will culminate on Friday with the 37th annual Governments of the Caribbean State Ball and Awards Presentations at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
The highlight will be awarding of Grenadian Dr. Roy Hastick who will receive the first ever CTO Diaspora Award honouree.
Dr. Hastick, an avid supporter and advocate of trade, investment and tourism to the Caribbean region, is the founder of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), a highly respected organisation which promotes economic development on behalf of Caribbean American, African American, and other small businesses.
He is being awarded for fostering both economic development and prosperity in the Caribbean American community.
“You have opened doors and given generously of your time and wisdom to help others craft their own successes and you represent what it means to be a true leader,” the CTO says in its citation.
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