BUILDING AND SUSTAINING GRENADA DIASPORA INITIATIVES IN canada

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BUILDING AND SUSTAINING GRENADA DIASPORA
INITIATIVES IN canada

• The success and sustainability of any
  organizational initiatives is dependent on the
  principles of transparency, inclusion,
  accountability and respect for democracy.

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BACKGROUND

• Grenadians in Canada have a profound interest
  in ongoing engagement with their nation of
  origin. The promise by the Government of
  Grenada to establish an Office on Diaspora
  Affairs is a positive intended policy.
• Current indicators have confirmed that
  Grenadian residents in various parts of the
  United Kingdom, the United States and at least
  two Provinces in Canada have begun to facilitate
  dialogue on Diaspora issues.
•  
• A small group of Grenadian residents in the
  Provinces of Quebec and Ontario have rallied to
  the Diaspora initiative, there is need to broaden
  the dialogue in Canada by ensuring that there is
  a credible non- partisan vehicle that will
  encourage and sustain a more broad based
  dialogue that extend beyond the boundaries of
  Ontario and Quebec.
• To date, Diaspora initiatives in Canada have been
  focused in Toronto and Montreal through meetings
  and a visit to Toronto by former Foreign Affairs
  Minister, Peter David. Recently, a forum was
  convened in Montreal and attended by Grenadians
  from the Toronto and Montreal area..
• In essence, Diaspora initiatives in Canada has
  moved slowly given specific concerns expresses
  about the partisan nature of the initiative and
  several important clarifications sought from the
  Minister of Foreign Affairs, Grenada which remain
  unanswered. The failure of Grenada to respond in
  a timely manner raises many speculations about
  the policy itself and the assumption that it is
  only a further characterization of the
  Governments weakness and lack of vision.

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PROFILE OF GRENADIANS IN CANADA

• Reliable indicators from Statistics Canada
  estimates that there are about 65,000 Canadians
  of Grenadian Heritage dispersed across the Nation
  with Ontario and Quebec being their prime
  residence.
• Grenadians in Canada still maintain an affinity
  with their land of birth33 bolstered and
  sustained by their constitutional rights to
  maintain dual citizenship.
• Over the last ten years, the presence and
  vibrancy of the Canadian Grenadian community
  has been felt in many organized events such as
  the Grenada Day Celebrations the Annual
  Independence celebrations hosted by diverse
  organizations across the Nation and the Annual
  Brunch of the Grenada Boys Secondary School
  Toronto Alumni Association.
• Canadian Grenadians have also demonstrated a
  strong presence in civic engagement initiatives
  through federal and municipal politics, the
  judiciary and public service.
• Canadian Grenadians can make a valuable
  contribution to strengthen the social, cultural
  and economic fabric in Grenada. Canadian
  Grenadians must be encouraged to become engaged
  in Diaspora initiatives.

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HOW CAN CANADIAn GRENADIANS BECOME ENGAGED IN
GRENADIAN DIASPORA INITIATIVES?

• Become engaged in civic and other participatory
  initiatives in main stream Canadian institutions
  and ensure that Grenada is always focused in
  the institutions global initiatives
• Participate, promote and support Canadian
  Grenadian initiatives sponsored by locally
  based Canadian Grenadian Associations
• Build and strengthen your knowledge base on
  critical Grenadian issues such as disaster
  preparedness planning, trade and investment
  enhancement youth collaborative initiatives
  cultural exchanges and tourism promotion.
• Institutions and individuals in Grenada
  interested in Diaspora initiatives must
  recognize, respect the efforts of Canadian
  Grenadians, establish and maintain timely and
  effective communications protocol.

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THE GOALS OF AN EFFECTIVE GRENADIAN
DIASPORA INITIATIVE IN CANADA

• Work effectively at all institutional levels in
  Canada to promote and encourage sustainable
  partnerships between Canada and Grenada
• Promote and encourage cultural collaboration
  between Canadian-Grenadian communities and those
  in Grenada with a focus on rural communities
• Facilitate innovative initiatives between the
  Diaspora organization and diverse private,
  public and voluntary sector institutions that
  have recognized the Grenadian Diaspora in Canada
  and embraces the notion of institutional
  collaboration.

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WHAT SHOULD BE THE VISION OF A GRENADA DIASPORA
INITIATIVE IN CANADA

• Development and Sustainability of a broad based
  Canadian-Grenadian institutional vehicle that is
  sensitive and responsive to the social, cultural
  and economic needs of Grenada
• An institution that is proactive, analytical,
  visionary and forward looking that can
  effectively contribute to Grenadas growth and
  advancement as a Least Developed Country LDC.
•  An institutional vehicle that allows for diverse
  views, accept constructive criticism,
  transparent, accountable and maintains a learning
  and knowledge environment

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THE PROPOSED MISSION STATEMENT OF A GRENADA
DIASPORA INITIATIVE IN CANADA

• To develop and sustain an independent and
  non-partisan institution in Canada that will
  encourage Canadian-Grenadian organizations and
  individuals to work collectively and nationally
  with diverse Canadian and other global
  institutions to develop and implement
  initiatives that enhance the social, economic and
  cultural fabric in Grenada..
•  

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HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT A DIASPORA STRATEGY IN
CANADA?

• The Strategy must be non-partisan, free from
  government dominance , independent, forward
  looking and driven by Canadian-Grenadians.
• Recognition that a successful and sustainable
  strategy must extend beyond Toronto and Montreal
  to ensure the inclusion of Canadian-Grenadians
  from other Provinces thus allowing for a
  credible and effective Pan-Canadian strategy.
• Maintain a strong communication and public
  information strategy that facilitate timely and
  qualitative information sharing mechanisms
  between Grenada and the Diaspora institution in
  Canada.
• Development and application of various tools and
  resources to ensure that Diaspora initiatives are
  meaningful, constructive and recognized by those
  who seek the contribution and participation of
  Canadian-Grenadians in the process.

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DESIGNING AND SUSTAINING AN EFFECTIVE DIASPORA
ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL IN CANADA

• Formation of a non-profit incorporated
  organization under the Canada Corporations Act.
  This allows for activities in each Province.
• Allows for individual and institutional
  membership with clearly defined participatory
  guidelines
• Cohesive, disciplined and focused on the
  principles of superb managerial responsibilities
• Ensure inclusive participation of all
  Canadian-Grenadians and demonstrate sound
  corporate planning and decisions making
• Build the model from the ground in order to
  reach the top. An effective model cannot start
  from the top to reach the ground. It will
  crumble.

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THE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Grenada should
  make a one time grant to the Consulate-General of
  Toronto that will facilitate the hosting of a
  national workshop so Canadian-Grenadians can
  participate in the discussion and formulation of
  an effective strategy in Canada . The outcome of
  this initiative will be the formation of a
  national steering committee that a) extend beyond
  Toronto and Montreal and b) to lay the impetus
  and groundwork for the formation of a
  non-partisan institution in Canada
• Ensure the participation of Montreal
  representation in the planning and
  implementation of the proposed national workshop
• The development, production and distribution of a
  central working document that define the
  Grenadian Diaspora in Canada and a proposed
  action plan that will be fully discussed at the
  workshop .

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CONTACTIAN A.FRANCIS, EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR,
VISMINCONSULTANCY.CA19 Teagarden Court, Whitby,
Ontario L1R 2H9Tel [phone] EMAIL
info_at_visminconsultancy.ca

• A true diaspora organization must be free from
  political manipulation and ensure that everyone
  fully participates in the process