Patrick Vernon

Professor Patrick Vernon OBE – UK South representative Global Jamaica Diaspora Council 

I am deeply honoured to have been selected as the candidate for the South.
I extend my sincere appreciation to my fellow candidates for their commitment and willingness to serve our community. I also thank the Election Committee for overseeing the process.

I pay special tribute to Nathaniel Peat, the outgoing South Representative, for his outstanding leadership and dedicated service over the past six years. His stewardship, including during the hustings process, has laid a strong foundation for continued progress.

To everyone who voted for me, and to the many supporters who placed their trust and confidence in my leadership, I am truly grateful. It is a profound privilege to serve as one of the UK representatives, working on behalf of the UK Jamaican diaspora and strengthening engagement with the Government of Jamaica.
I will represent UK South—London and the wider South of England and Wales—and I look forward to working closely with Abigail Brady Rhoden (UK South Youth Council), Reccarnei Phillipson (UK North Youth representative) and Marcus Humphrey (UK North representative) to strengthen inclusive engagement, build trust, and maintain constructive dialogue with the Jamaican Government.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Mellisa, our collective voice, resources, expertise, and networks are more critical than ever in supporting the long-term recovery and resilience of Jamaica. Our diaspora has both the responsibility and the capacity to play a meaningful role in this journey.

In my manifesto (https://patrickvernon.org.uk/professor-patrick-vernon-obes-vision-for-gjdc-uk-south/), I outlined a clear roadmap for engagement, collaboration, and impact. My immediate priority is to begin active mobilisation across the South — meeting members of our diaspora, listening carefully, and building on the strong foundation already laid — so that together we can be a beacon of support, solidarity, co-production, and enduring love for Jamaica.

Please email me at gjdc@patrickvernon.org.uk if you like to invite to your events, support my role and ideas for suggestions around building dialogue with Jamaica. I look forward to working with you all.

What is The Global Jamaica Diaspora Council
The Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) is set out in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade’s Terms of Reference as Jamaica’s strengthened, structured diaspora-engagement mechanism: it succeeds the Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board and is described as the principal organ for delivering the National Diaspora Policy, including developing the “modalities” to realise policy goals, while explicitly not being an arm of the Government of Jamaica (members’ views do not automatically represent government positions). The governance framework places the Chair with the Minister responsible for Diaspora Affairs and the Secretariat within the Diaspora Affairs Department; membership is structured at 28, comprising elected diaspora representatives (including UK North and UK South seats and youth members aged 18–35) and ministerial appointments drawn from regions and key sectors, plus one discretionary appointment. Elected members are chosen through regional diaspora elections and then confirmed by ministerial letter; members are mandated to interface with diaspora communities in their region and to meet regularly with the relevant Jamaican diplomatic mission/consular post to collaborate on solution-oriented activities and receive briefings on Government priority areas, and service is voluntary for a term of up to three years. UK South covers- London, South East, South West, Wales, Isle of Wight, Bailiwick of Jersey, Guernsey and Sark, and the Isles of Scilly.

More information https://mfaft.gov.jm/GJDC-YC-Elections2025