On Wednesday 27th of September 2023, the International Affairs Committee (IAC) met with a delegation from the Foreign Affairs Department (FAD). The IAC was led by the Chairperson Hon. Waven William, and accompanied by Hon. Philip Monthy, Hon. Egbert Aglae and Hon. Phillip Arissol, with assistance provided by Committee Secretary Ms. Emma Didon, and Assistant Committee Secretary Mr. Darel Atala. The FAD delegation was led by the Principal Secretary Ambassador Vivianne Fock Tave, who was accompanied by the Director General of the Department’s Consular and Diaspora Affairs Division Ms. Myrna Hoareau, Second Secretary Mr. Travis Payet, and an International Organization on Migration (IMO) expert and consultant Mr. Martin Russell.
The aim of the meeting was to discuss the new National Diaspora Policy (2024–2029) which is now in its consultative and drafting stage. A brief and thorough overview of the new national diaspora policy was given by the FAD, which is the first of its kind and ultimately aims to achieve effective engagement within the diaspora. Taking the lead on the presentation, Mr. Russell elaborated on the implications involved to achieve this engagement, explaining the policy’s three main pillars achieved through the objective of designing a sustainable system of diaspora engagement. The three pillars are the “Governance of Diaspora Engagement”, “Local and Global Diaspora Diplomacy”, and “Diaspora Capital for Development”.
The Committee showed great interest in the facets of diaspora engagement, especially the capacity of both financial and human resources needed to effectively implement the policy. The IAC was informed of the long-term commitment needed to establish a sustainable policy with a particular emphasis on the need for financing, which the Diaspora Division expected would take some time. The current focus is the building of engagement internally to mainstream the movement throughout all Ministry’s, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Members also enquired on the diaspora’s direct and indirect contribution to the nation’s development, the need for future legislation to solidify the policy, improving international missions for more effective engagement, and the diaspora throughout generations.
To monitor the progress of implementation of the policy, the IAC requested that the division share the action plan once it was completed. This was agreed upon by Ambassador Fock Tave, and the meeting concluded. Both parties expressed a mutual satisfaction and a willingness to see this policy through via a continued, strong partnership.
