In the middle of next month Jamaica will hold its annual diaspora conference. The event ought to be a moment of solidarity as the country prepares for its fiftieth anniversary of independence, its likely success at the Olympics and a positive world image. However, the signs are that this event may prove fractious, party political and may be boycotted by some.
Similar situations exist with other community groups from across the Caribbean that sometimes give the impression that they are more interested in complaining about what is happening at home, settling old scores and engaging in domestic squabbles, rather than providing their country of birth or ancestry with political and economic support where they live and vote.
How to make the best use of the vast and largely