Jamaica remittances

The quarterly intelligence report on Jamaica’s global diaspora for October–December 2018: six months on from the 8th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, the US midterm elections deliver a Democratic House majority with significant Caribbean-American electoral participation, the Windrush Compensation Scheme design advances under new Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Jamaica’s 2018 tourism season posts another record performance, and Christmas remittances build toward another strong annual total.

The Jamaica Diaspora Annual Roundup for 2018: the Windrush scandal explodes into full public view in April, forcing an apology from the Home Secretary and the Windrush compensation scheme; the 8th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference is held; Brexit negotiations reach a withdrawal agreement but Parliament rejects it; the US family separation immigration policy shocks the nation; and remittances to Jamaica pass US$2.5 billion.

The quarterly intelligence report on Jamaica’s global diaspora for July–September 2018: three months on from the landmark 8th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, the Windrush scandal produces a historic apology and compensation pledge from the UK government, the US Supreme Court upholds Trump’s travel ban, the family separation crisis ends by court order, and Jamaica’s remittance and tourism performance remains strong.

The quarterly intelligence report on Jamaica’s global diaspora for April–June 2018: the 8th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference convenes in Montego Bay in June with over three thousand diaspora participants, the Windrush scandal reaches its peak as Home Secretary Amber Rudd resigns and Prime Minister Theresa May apologises to Caribbean community members, Trump’s family separation policy produces global outrage before being ended by executive order on 20 June, and Jamaica’s economy maintains its positive trajectory.

The quarterly intelligence report on Jamaica’s global diaspora for January–March 2018: Trump’s reported ‘shithole countries’ remark on 11 January shocks the Caribbean diaspora and prompts PM Holness to cancel a planned White House meeting, Congress fails to pass DACA protections before the March deadline, the Windrush scandal begins to surface in the UK media, and the 8th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference—scheduled for June 2018—enters its final planning phase.

The quarterly intelligence report on Jamaica’s global diaspora for October–December 2017: the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and Dominica generates an outpouring of Caribbean diaspora solidarity, DACA’s September rescission puts Congress under a six-month deadline to legislate, the Trump administration issues its third travel ban in September, the US Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is signed in December, and planning begins for the 8th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in June 2018.

The Jamaica Diaspora Annual Roundup for 2017: the Windrush scandal begins to emerge as The Guardian’s journalism exposes the British government’s hostile environment deportations of long-settled Caribbean residents; Brexit’s Article 50 is triggered in March; the Manchester Arena and London Bridge attacks kill 34; Hurricane Irma and Maria devastate the Caribbean in September; and the #MeToo movement erupts in October.

The quarterly intelligence report on Jamaica’s global diaspora for July–September 2017: a devastating hurricane season sees Harvey hit Texas in August, Irma brush Jamaica before devastating Barbuda and St Maarten, and Maria obliterate Puerto Rico and Dominica in a catastrophe still unfolding at publication date; Trump rescinds DACA on 5 September; and the Charlottesville white supremacist rally on 12 August and Trump’s ‘both sides’ response intensify the racial justice debate across African-American and Caribbean-American communities.

Jamaica’s property market peaks in summer 2017 as record tourism arrivals, new NHT benefits and strong diaspora activity converge for the island’s best year in a decade.

The quarterly intelligence report on Jamaica’s global diaspora for April–June 2017: Trump’s second travel ban remains blocked by the courts as the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, enhanced interior immigration enforcement continues to generate fear across Jamaican-American communities, the UK’s snap general election produces a hung parliament that deepens Brexit uncertainty for British-Jamaicans, and the 7th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference marks its first anniversary as Jamaica’s National Diaspora Policy enters its implementation phase.

Jamaica’s property market gains momentum in April 2017 as tourism records spur north coast investment and apartment demand builds in the Corporate Area.

The quarterly intelligence report on Jamaica’s global diaspora for January–March 2017: Donald Trump is inaugurated on 20 January and signs his first travel ban executive order six days later, producing chaos at US airports and a wave of legal challenges, interior enforcement expansion creates immediate fear across Jamaican-American communities, the UK triggers Article 50 on 29 March formally beginning Brexit, and Jamaica’s economy maintains its positive trajectory under PM Holness.

Jamaica’s housing market enters 2017 with cautious optimism as Trump’s inauguration raises diaspora questions and NHT continues its expansion push.

The quarterly intelligence report on Jamaica’s global diaspora for October–December 2016: Hurricane Matthew strikes Jamaica on 3–4 October causing significant agricultural and infrastructure damage, Donald Trump’s election victory on 8 November sends shockwaves through Jamaican-American and British-Jamaican communities, the 7th Biennial’s six-month implementation milestones are assessed, and Christmas remittances close the year strongly.

The Jamaica Diaspora Annual Roundup for 2016: the Brexit referendum of 23 June votes Leave 52-48 and reshapes the political landscape for British-Jamaican communities; Donald Trump defeats Hillary Clinton in the US presidential election; Andrew Holness and the JLP defeat Simpson Miller in Jamaica’s February election; Usain Bolt wins his third consecutive 100m Olympic gold at Rio de Janeiro and retires; and the 7th Biennial consolidates diaspora institutions.