By His Excellency the Most Honourable
SIR HOWARD FELIX HANLAN COOKE, Member of
the Order of the Nation, Knight Grand Cross of the Most
Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Commander of the Order of Distinction,
Governor-General of Jamaica.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL

WHEREAS Jamaicans living abroad have never forgotten their roots, as is manifested in the numerous charitable initiatives undertaken each year, the consistent promotion of Jamaica in every sphere of activity, the increased flow of remittances, the contribution to nation building and the overwhelming support given by Jamaicans to Jamaican teams wherever they perform abroad:

AND WHEREAS it has been agreed by all that we must find better organized and more systematic ways of involving ourselves in the challenges that members of the Jamaican overseas communities face in their new homes and in doing so show that although they are far from home they are close to heart:

AND WHEREAS the nation must use every opportunity to highlight the importance of the role being played by the Jamaican Diaspora in their adopted homeland as well as in the national development of Jamaica:

AND WHEREAS the Government, in recognition of their invaluable contribution, in tandem with representatives of the private sector, of the academic community, of the returned citizens associations and of the Jamaican communities overseas, convened the first Jamaican Diaspora Conference on the 16th and 17th of June, 2004 to help formalise the linkages and tap into the vast potential of this community:

AND WHEREAS the representatives attending the first Jamaican Diaspora Conference viewed it as appropriate that the 16th of June, 2005 be recognized as a historic milestone in the relationship between and amongst Jamaicans everywhere, a milestone worthy of an annual recognition and celebration:

AND WHEREAS it is agreed that this historic milestone can best be remembered and recognized by declaring the 16th of June of each year as Jamaican Diaspora Day:

NOW THEREFORE, I HOWARD FELIX HANLAN COOKE, Member of the Order of the Nation, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Commander of the Order of Distinction, Governor-General of Jamaica DO HEREBY PROCLAIM that the 16th of June of each year be celebrated as Jamaican Diaspora Day and encourage all Jamaicans who reside overseas and in Jamaica to support the activities of the Jamaican Diaspora.

Given under my hand at King’s House this 14th day of June, Two Thousand and Five.

HOWARD COOKE
GOVERNOR-GENERAL