Unfinished tasks in diaspora affairs – Part Two
Thurs Mar 28, 2013
by Maxwell Haywood
In part one of this article, I presented a brief overview and context of the relations between SVG and its sons and daughters living abroad, in the diaspora. In this article, I will highlight several urgent tasks that must be accomplished, especially by government, in order to take SVG to a higher level of diaspora affairs.{{more}}
National Diaspora Policy
Importantly, there is urgent need for a National Diaspora Policy for SVG. As far back as 2009, Vincentians met in the United States during the Homecoming Conference and finalized the SVG Diaspora Framework For Action, which states that the people “Call on the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines to formulate a National Diaspora Policy in partnership with the Diaspora. The timeframe for completing this effort should be within 2 years.â
The National Diaspora Policy is important in a number of ways. Through this policy, the government will signal to Vincentians at home and abroad that the government is very serious about effectively transforming diaspora relations. A policy will set out the vision for development of diaspora relations. It establishes the expectations of government regarding what the government and people of SVG look forward to in terms of diaspora relations. It will strengthen commitment and help to build partnership throughout the policy process. It will also facilitate the formal integration of the diaspora into the development processes of SVG.
The policy will provide a clearer view for all Vincentians in terms of the perspectives, issues, and means for building effective diaspora relations. The policy will serve the purpose of removing constraints that prevent the Vincentian diaspora from fully contributing to the development process of SVG.
Interestingly, when Prime Minister Dr Gonsalves spoke at the SVG Diaspora and Development Conference, held in New York in 2012, he stated that ⦠“my government has already approved, in principle, a Working Draft of a document entitled “A Diaspora Policy for St Vincent and the Grenadinesâ through the instrumentality of the Regional Integration and Diapora Unit (RIDU) in consultation with the relevant stakeholders at home and abroad. It is a matter upon which we shall further build after this SVG Diaspora and Development Conference. The Diaspora Policy will then be finalized for Cabinet approval and Parliamentary endorsement.â
Database
Another urgent task is the creation and development of a database of diaspora and SVG resources, needs, priorities, policies, and projects. This database has been spoken about for many years. Yet, it has not become reality. The time is now.
Government mechanisms
Moreover, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Diaspora Framework for Action, USA, states that “A coordinating and consultative committee of relevant stakeholders should be established in St Vincent and the Grenadines to guide the Vincy Homecoming process and relations with the Diaspora.â
Of course there are many more tasks related to the government that need to be looked at. These tasks I highlighted are in my view the urgent tasks of the government. The final part of this article will look at the urgent tasks of other sectors.