Unfinished tasks in diaspora affairs — Part 1

Fri Mar 22, 2013

by Maxwell Haywood

Quite often we hear that our nation’s greatest resources are its people. Indeed, without the people, no other resource could be mobilized. Human capital is therefore critical to the development process in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).{{more}} This assertion, while obvious, is very profound. This means that all Vincentians at home and abroad are the chief forces for SVG’s development. In that regard, it is important to note that it is estimated that there are over 300,000 people of Vincentian heritage living outside SVG, who are usually called the Vincentian diaspora. They have already demonstrated, through financial remittances and other ways, that they have not forsaken SVG. But three-quarters of the potential of the Vincentian diaspora is not being fulfilled. Bringing this potential to full reality is a major essential strategic challenge.

One of the exciting and urgent challenges for countries like SVG is that there is much to be done in order to fully benefit from migration and the diaspora communities that emigration from SVG creates. I will explore this theme in a series of articles by looking at SVG’s relations with its sons and daughters living outside SVG.

Migration involves people moving from one country to the next. During the migration process, many highly educated or trained people leave the country. The emigration of these nationals could impact negatively on the home country if relevant authorities do not put in place mechanisms and processes that will facilitate the contributions of those educated nationals living abroad to their home country. The absence of a deliberate and effective approach to get the most out of migration or to manage migration means that brain-drain will remain a critical issue confronting the development of SVG.

Turning around the brain-drain to brain-gain calls for deliberate action, especially on the part of the relevant authorities of SVG in the government, civil society sector, private business sector, and the cooperative sector. It is vital to connect the diaspora with national development policies, strategies, programmes, and projects. In this way, brain-drain could be turned into brain-gain.

The government and people of SVG have already demonstrated the will to establish mechanisms and processes to positively address linkages between migration, Vincentians living abroad, and development. Since 1979, all the major political parties in their manifestos have expressed high interest in working closely with the Vincentian diaspora. Past governments, controlled by the St. Vincent Labour Party (SVGLP) and the New Democratic Party (NDP) have made their contributions to building diaspora relations, especially by using the Consulate General offices to reach out to Vincentians living abroad. Also, when the leaders of these parties visited countries where Vincentians live, they took time out to meet with the diaspora. Currently, the Unity Labour Party administration continues these trends started by the SVGLP and the NDP.

Currently, the government and people of SVG have positively welcomed diaspora contributions to SVG. The government has established the Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit (RIDU) which is supposed to stimulate and coordinate relations between SVG and its diaspora. Recently, we witnessed the participation of the Prime Minister in the SVG Diaspora and Development Conference held in October 2013. He delivered an important speech on SVG diaspora relations. In addition, we also saw the involvement of various government institutions in conducting consultations in the diaspora around national development challenges including constitutional reform, sports, culture, and economic development. Furthermore, there is the participation of SVG’s civil society organizations and the private sector in important events and processes in the diaspora, especially the SVG diaspora and Development Conference process.

SVG’s diaspora affairs could be enhanced by proper representation within regional and global institutions that address the issue of migration, diaspora and development. Just recently, in the latter part of 2012, SVG became the 147th member of the International Organization on Migration (IOM). As soon as possible, the government should make full use of the services provided to members of the IOM.{{more}}

The current thrust in diaspora relations is coming quite late, but not too late. In my view, there are many tasks in diaspora affairs that should have been fulfilled a long time ago. Since about the 1960s these tasks should have been started and established firmly during the 1970s and 80s. Or after 1979, these tasks should have been accomplished. Nevertheless, what we missed out accomplishing during those years, we could achieve them now, because we have the talent, skills, knowledge, experience, and networks to do so. I would say that within three to five years, we could accomplish all tasks we missed.

In my next article, I will look at several unfinished urgent tasks in SVG’s diaspora affairs.