The Jamaica Diaspora has contributed US$186,000 to the education sector for the period April 2016 to March 2017.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, made the revelation on Friday while speaking at a Jamaica Diaspora Day breakfast event held at the Jamaica National Financial Centre on Belmont Road, Kingston.
The event was held to commission a study on the economic value of the Diaspora, undertaken by the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI) and the Jamaica Diaspora Institute (JDI).
It was also part of activities to observe Diaspora Day celebrated locally and abroad on June 16.
Johnson Smith said the money came from in-kind donations in the form of educational materials, inclusive of books and computers.
“We truly value the sacrifices that many of them make to their families and communities evidenced by their generous gifts, whether through philanthropic donations or sharing of their time, skills and expertise,” she said.
The minister said that Jamaicans overseas have also provided an important niche market for non-traditional products.
She said that products, such as yams, sweet potatoes, papaya, dasheen, pumpkin, mangoes, breadfruit, callaloo and ackee are now top agricultural exports to the United Kingdom, USA, and Canada.
“During the period 2005 to 2015, the USA represented the major market for agricultural exports,” she added.
You must log in to post a comment.