Diaspora Delegates Upbeat on Safety, Health and Business Reforms

Montego Bay, St James, 21 June 2026

Jamaicans living overseas left the recent diaspora conference in Montego Bay broadly encouraged by government efforts to improve safety, health care and the business climate, with several delegates saying those issues will shape whether they return home to live.

The 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference was held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, drawing overseas Jamaicans from cities across the United States and Canada.

Safety and health top the list

Miami-based businesswoman Doreen Thaxter said nothing matters more than being able to move around freely and sleep soundly at night. She has already started the process of returning to Jamaica, part of a wider pattern of overseas nationals weighing a move back.

Valerie Brown, who travelled from Ontario, said she came mainly to hear about health care, which she described as the deciding factor for many who are thinking of coming home. She welcomed the presentations by Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton and his team.

Atlanta businessman and web developer Ralston Brown spoke of the investment opportunities he saw, while Washington DC resident Donya Gordon said the health and tourism sessions impressed her most.

Ministers make their case

Dr Tufton restated the Government’s commitment to wider access to quality health care, including in emergencies. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett stressed the sector’s role in economic recovery, and Deputy Prime Minister and National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang pointed to progress in reducing crime.

State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Alando Terrelonge said the positive response from overseas Jamaicans reflects renewed optimism, and that continued collaboration and investment from abroad could help build a more resilient country.

What it means for returning residents

For anyone planning a return, the priorities voiced in Montego Bay are a useful checklist when choosing where to buy or build: personal security, reliable access to hospitals and clinics, and a local economy with opportunities. Those same factors increasingly influence which communities attract returning residents, and they can shape demand and prices in those areas over time.