NEW YORK, United States — Significant controversy has emerged surrounding the upcoming 2026 elections for the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and its youth counterpart (GJDYC), scheduled to commence on January 28, 2026. Prominent diaspora leader Patrick Beckford, former head of the Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board for the North-East United States and founding member of the original advisory body, has called for a complete boycott of the electoral process.
Beckford advocates for establishing an entirely independent diaspora-controlled organization that operates autonomously without government ministerial connections or oversight. He contends that the current GJDC structure has deviated from its original purpose, transforming into what he describes as a ‘ministerial extension’ rather than remaining accountable to the diaspora community itself.
The election process, running through February 20 with results announced four days later, faces additional scrutiny due to historically low participation rates. The 2023 elections saw merely 3,000 voters casting ballots across the global Jamaican diaspora community.
Beckford has found support from other influential diaspora figures, including Dr. Rupert Francis, who echoed concerns about Jamaican government involvement in diaspora affairs. Both critics have particularly questioned candidate eligibility requirements that prohibit those with criminal convictions or bankruptcy declarations from seeking representation.
According to Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, forty-four candidates across the United States and Canada will contest the elections. Notable changes include outgoing southern region representative Peter Gracey not seeking re-election, while Michelle Tulloch-Neil aims for a second term representing the North-East region.
Following the elections, successful representatives will begin planning for the 11th GJDC Biennial Conference scheduled for June 14-18, 2026, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. The 2023 conference attracted over 1,000 participants, with organizers anticipating increased attendance this year for discussions on trade, investment, and diaspora engagement matters involving both government and private sector participants.