Scotiabank Jamaica will host twelve visiting participants in the Caribbean-Canada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue (CCELD) from June 4 to 8, 2011 while 6 Jamaicans will depart for Ottawa, Canada. The CCELD brings together 120 future leaders from Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean to participate in a unique, two week, leadership development conference that is focused on broadening perspectives and improving decision-making practices.

The dialogue opens in Ottawa, Canada on May 29 and closes in Barbados on June 11. During this time the participants travelling in small groups will visit selected locations in Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean to dialogue with community leaders, workers and volunteers from a variety of sectors to engage, listen, inquire, share ideas and learn what it means to be a leader in an increasingly interdependent and complex world.

Participants have been selected from a broad range of backgrounds intended to reflect the diversity that exists in the workplace and the economy. Sectors participating include business, trade unions, government and NGOs, community organizations, arts and the media, and the military and police.

Jamaica’s representatives to the Dialogue are Lisa Simone Bell - Managing Director, EXIM Bank; Omar McFarlane-Sweeney - Deputy Managing Director, Jamaica Social Investment Fund; Nadiya Figueroa –Violence Prevention Alliance Volunteer; Sidjae Nadia Robinson - President, Unlimited Possibilities; Nikkolai Cowan - DHL South Caribbean; and Oneil Grant - Jamaica Civil Service Association.

Under its 2011 theme, “Growth Through Connections: Enabling Sustainable Progress” the Dialogue exposes participants to ideas, issues and people that will fundamentally change how they see themselves and the world they work in. “It gives them new knowledge and skills to engage successfully in the challenges and opportunities they face; as well as exposing them to new cultures and perspectives.” states Caribbean Co-chair Sir Richard Gozney, Governor of Bermuda.

Canadian Dialogue Co-chair Sue Lee, Senior vice President, Human Resources & Communications, Suncor Energy Inc. indicates that the Dialogue supports the many close commercial and cultural ties between Canada and the Caribbean. “We share a belief in democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We have strong human links through education, migration and tourism. We have significant investments in financial institutions and beyond. And, we also have a long history of economic and political co-operation and know that the best way to overcome our geography and small populations is to work together.”

The CCELD provides a profound personal experience to participants that will expand their knowledge of issues of international importance and give insight into the thinking of top leaders throughout the region. “It is an entry point to being more effective in a globalized world,” says Sir Roy Trotman, General Secretary of the Barbados Workers Union.

While in Jamaica, the participants will meet with leaders and representatives from labour, Professor Trevor Munroe, Wayne Jones, Danny Roberts and Audrey Hinchcliffe and from tourism; Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett & Carole Guntley. Scotiabank will host an economic forum with presentations from Mr. Brian Wynter – Governor, Bank of Jamaica; Mr. Joseph Matalon – President, Private Sector Organization of Jamaica; Mr. Dennis Morrison - Senior Director, Jamaica Bauxite Institute, Dr. Christopher Tufton - Minister of Agriculture; and Mr. Douglas Orane - Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Grace Kennedy Limited.

The participants will also participate in sessions and tours at the University of the West Indies, Mona, the University of Technology, the Mustard Seed Communities, Bob Marley Museum and several tourist attractions on the north coast.