Sun | Apr 5, 2026

Digicel delves deeper into diaspora engagement

...Promotes tech partnerships to catalyse investments as major sponsor of 10th biennial conference

Published:Monday | April 8, 2024 | 12:07 AM
Elon Parkinson (right), head of communications and corporate affairs at Digicel, engages in conversation with Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, and State Ministe Alando Terrelonge during the media launch for the 1
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Elon Parkinson (right), head of communications and corporate affairs at Digicel, engages in conversation with Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, and State Ministe Alando Terrelonge during the media launch for the 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference.

Jamaican digital operator, Digicel, is breaking new ground in diaspora engagement through its support for the 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference from June 16 to 19 in Montego Bay, St James.

As the country’s premier connectivity provider for advanced mobile, high-speed fibre-to-the-home, and sophisticated business communication services, Digicel will be showcasing how its full suite of connectivity is geared to maximise migration’s benefits by creating opportunities for investments, dialogue, and supporting friends and family back home.

Speaking at the official media launch on Thursday, Elon Parkinson, head of corporate affairs and communications at Digicel, commented, “Digicel recognises the pivotal and influential role of Jamaica’s global migrant communities as key actors for national development.”

He added: “Their knowledge, experience, and resources can foster initiatives that accelerate our pace of economic growth. Our technology will play a leading role in bringing it all together.”

The four-day event, to be held under the theme, ‘Uniting for Jamaica’s Transformation: Fostering Peace, Productivity and Youth Empowerment’, will come at a time when Digicel is creating bigger stepping stones for members of the diaspora to participate in investment initiatives and innovations through the upgrade and expansion of its mobile and fibre networks across Jamaica.

Known as a trusted and preferred communications partner to Jamaica’s diaspora communities, Digicel, a Jamaica-born company, supports migrants with staying constantly connected to friends and families locally via online portals for top-ups, prepaid and postpaid plans, bill payments, and remittances via the MyCash digital wallet.

With an increasing amount of diaspora interest in private investments and entrepreneurship, the company’s business arm, Digicel Business, will engage attendees on scalable initiatives across several sectors in the local economy. Attendees will also get a first-hand look at the work of the company’s philanthropic arm, Digicel Foundation, which has been improving the lives of over 800,000 people through investments in community entrepreneurship, education and Special Needs, valued at over US$44 million or J$6.8 billion. Altogether, Digicel has invested over US$3 billion or J$450 billion in Jamaica since it started in 2001.

“Above all, the Conference is an opportunity for Digicel to reinforce our belief in Jamaica’s promise through the amalgamation of our individual and collective strengths. This instrumental platform will help to jump-start opportunities for Jamaicans abroad who are seeking to innovate through technology as they participate in Jamaica’s booming economy,” Parkinson concluded.