The inaugural edition of the Quarterly Jamaica Diaspora & Returnee Update, covering January–March 2024: January remittances open at US$228.3 million, Jamaica’s economy enters 2024 on a broadly positive footing, preparations are underway for the landmark 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in June, voluntary returnee flows continue from the United Kingdom, and the SAWP opens its 2024 registration cycle.

As Toronto’s Little Jamaica fights to survive gentrification caused by a decade of transit construction, an independent report on Jamaica exposes gaps in Britain’s Windrush outreach, and the post-coronation debate over Jamaica’s republican future gathers momentum.

The quarterly intelligence report on Jamaica’s global diaspora for October–December 2023: full-year 2023 remittances declined 2.0 per cent to approximately US$3.37 billion, Q4 GDP grew a solid 1.9 per cent, 655 Jamaican nationals were returned from the United States during the year, the National Diaspora Policy enters implementation, and Jamaica prepares for a general election.

The Jamaica Diaspora Annual Roundup for 2023: the generative AI revolution reshapes economies and workforces across diaspora host countries; the Israel-Gaza war erupts in October and tests international solidarity frameworks; Jamaica’s economy delivers its strongest growth in years; the reparations campaign continues to gain momentum; and remittances remain above US$3.3 billion as cost-of-living pressures ease.

The quarterly intelligence report on Jamaica’s global diaspora for July–September 2023: remittances continue their post-pandemic normalisation below the 2022 pace, Q2 2023 GDP grew 2.3 per cent, an above-average Atlantic hurricane season passes Jamaica without a direct strike, the National Diaspora Policy drives deepening engagement, and Jamaica’s diplomatic missions manage elevated consular demand.

The quarterly intelligence report on Jamaica’s global diaspora for April–June 2023: remittances opened the year strongly with approximately US$500 million in January–February, the National Diaspora Policy drives a deepening institutional agenda, the 9th Biennial Conference commitments are in active follow-through, the UK cost-of-living crisis continues to suppress British-Jamaican remittance growth, and voluntary returnee flows from the UK remain the dominant stream of voluntary migration to the island.

The quarterly intelligence briefing on Jamaica’s global diaspora for January–March 2023: remittances sustained their broad scale with approximately US$250 million in January alone, the landmark National Diaspora Policy begins operational implementation, outcomes from the 9th Biennial Conference guide inter-ministerial working group activity, the UK cost-of-living crisis exerts continuing pressure on British-Jamaican senders, and voluntary returnee processing through PICA maintains steady throughput.

The death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 sent complex waves through the Jamaican diaspora and across the island itself — accelerating the republic movement, prompting fierce debate about the meaning of grief, and marking the end of an era that connected the Caribbean to the Crown through memory, loyalty and loss.

Queen Elizabeth II’s death on 8 September 2022 intensifies Jamaica’s republican ambitions as Charles III accedes to the throne. The Home Office launches a media campaign in Jamaica for Windrush claimants. The compensation scheme surpasses £64 million and the UK resumes deportation charter flights to the island. Our quarterly diaspora and Windrush update.

The quarterly intelligence report on Jamaica’s global diaspora for October–December 2022: Jamaica adopts its landmark National Diaspora Policy in November, full-year 2022 remittances reach approximately US$3.44 billion in the first decline since the pandemic-era peak, GDP growth of 5.2 per cent confirms a strong economic year, the UK cost-of-living crisis intensifies through the Christmas quarter, and the FIFA World Cup Qatar brings the diaspora together for football in the absence of the Reggae Boyz.