Brown seeks to raise awareness after taking victory in UK’s GJDC elections

BY MKUU AMANI

UK constituents have voted for Kevin Brown and Nathaniel Peat in the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council 2019 elections.

The result means that Brown and Peat become the UK’s first representatives on the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC).

Reflecting on his victory Kevin Brown said: “First of all I was happy that I won. But more so, humbled by the opportunity that I’ve been given to represent the northern region.”

“It’s quite a large geographical landscape to represent. It includes the East and West Midlands, the north of England, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Scotland. So I was quite humbled by the opportunity and I’m looking forward to it.”

The GJDC replaces the Jamaican Diaspora Advisory Board (JDAB).

In 2004, when the JDAB was established, eight elected board members represented the three countries with the largest Jamaican communities in the diaspora – UK, USA and Canada. However, with the launch of the GJDC this dynamic is set to change.

A further fourteen council members including representatives from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East are to be appointed by Jamaica’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs.

As a result Kevin Brown, Nathaniel Peat and five other newly elected representatives (two from Canada and three from USA) will form part of a much wider collaborative network when the GJDC meets for the first time later this year.

Brown, whose constituency includes Birmingham – the city with the largest black Caribbean community in the UK, spoke about some of the issues he expects to face within his new role.

He said: “I’m hoping that I’ll be able to first of all – make people aware of the GJDC and that I’m their representative.

“I think that’s the first major challenge – to make people aware of the Council, what the Council is there for and how to contact me if they have a problem or an issue that they would like me to deal with on their behalf.”

Whilst Brown represents the northern region of the UK, Nathaniel Peat will be focused on the south of the country where, particularly in London, there are large black Caribbean communities residing in districts like Croydon, Lewisham, Lambeth and Brent.

It is intended that, like the JDAB, the GJDC will represent a bridge between the Jamaican government and the Jamaican communities living outside of Jamaica.

Although the aims and objectives of the GJDC will no doubt remain similar to those of the now disbanded JDAB, the launch of the Council with its wealth of new members can in some ways be viewed as a fresh beginning for all involved – with the exception perhaps, of the Canadian representative.

Yvette Blackburn’s election win meant that she has become the first and only person to serve on both the JDAB and the GJDC.

Election Results

The following candidates were elected in the GJDC Elections:

UK North: Kevin Brown, PhD

UK South: Nathaniel Peat

Canada: Nailah Gordon-Decicieo, Yvette Blackburn

USA Northeast: Karren Dunkley

USA Southern: Dr. Allan Cunningham

USA West/Midwest: Shauna Chin

To find out more about the GJDC go to: https://www.globaljadiasporacouncil.com