: Dr Carol Stewart: Moving from Words to Action for Jamaica’s Development
Hi everyone!
Can you believe we are two months into 2026 already! Where has the time gone!
So, I am really excited at the start to my year so far, having been nominated for the Global Jamaican Diaspora Council, representing the UK South.
What is the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC)?
The GJDC is the principal advisory and consultative body established by the Government of Jamaica to create a permanent and strategic partnership between the island and its global Diaspora.
Launched in 2020 as the successor to the Diaspora Advisory Board, the Council ensures that your voice, the voice of the 800,000 Jamaicans living in the UK, is heard at the highest levels of policy making in Kingston.
What Does the Council Do?
- Influences National Policy: The Council serves as a conduit for the Diaspora to shape Jamaica’s development across critical sectors, including Education, Health, Commerce, and Citizen Security.
- Drives Economic Growth: Council members work directly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to promote trade, investment, and sustainable economic partnerships that benefit both Jamaica and its overseas communities.
- Protects Diaspora Well-being: A core mandate of the Council is to address issues impacting Jamaicans where they reside, ensuring that the government supports the prosperity of our people abroad as well as at home.
- Fosters Sustainable Engagement: By aligning with the National Diaspora Policy, the GJDC moves beyond simple donations toward long-term, results-based engagement that utilises the social and financial capital of the Diaspora for national growth.
So why me and why now?
I am in my 60th year on this earth, and I promised myself that this year, I am going to start putting those many long-term visions into action. To be nominated to stand for election to the GJDC for the UK in the South is such an honour. For several years, I have wanted to find a way to utilise my skills, knowledge and experience in social care and developing communities to help strengthen Jamaica, the birthplace of my parents. I have a saying, “I land where I am meant to land, to do what needs to be done”. I can no longer sit on the sidelines thinking what can I do, when I know I have a lot to give, I just didn’t know how, then this opportunity came along, so I seized it with both hands!
Strategic Leader and Community Advocate
Who am I?
Daughter of the Windrush generation with ancestral roots in Maidstone, Manchester, and Jamaica’s first ‘free village. My lineage traces back to the very foundation of freedom in Jamaica. My family, led by Josiah Frith, were part of the original 75 pioneer families who settled on land formerly known as the Thomas Frith plantation.
I am very proud to be a descendant of the Frith family, as well as my father’s family, as a testament to the community that built the first free communities of our nation, a trait that has influenced my life as a community leader.
For 25 years, I have lived and worked in Medway, Kent, applying a spirit of community empowerment to lead health, education, and cultural initiatives. My commitment to service began at 14 as a youth advocate and later Chair of the African Caribbean Community Initiative in Wolverhampton. For over 40 years, I have been a visible community leader, ensuring our history, challenges, and successes are never ignored.
Why Vote for Me — Leadership with Results
- National Policy Influence: Leading voice on the Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standard (SC‑WRES); led research and published evaluations with Skills for Care and King’s College London to dismantle systemic barriers.
- National Programme Design: Designed the learning and development programme for the national return‑to‑practice programme for social workers for the Local Government Association — praised as a ‘Gold Star’ model.
- Strategic Workforce Planning: As Director of Chinara Enterprises, led workforce strategies for multiple local councils, improving recruitment, retention, and inspection readiness through cultural transformation.
- Governance & Board Leadership: Non‑Executive Director and Chairperson — Medway Place Board, EDI Steering Group (SE Create), and research committees for Cardiff University and King’s College London.
- Institutional Impact: Awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the Arts by the University of Kent (2024) for contributions to culture and community leadership.
Community Reach & Promoting the Council
- Awareness: Many of the 800,000 people of Jamaican origin in the UK are unaware of the Council or how to contribute. I will change that.
- Platforms: 15,000+ followers across social media; 1,000+ contacts via my website; 1,000+ direct contacts via email/WhatsApp. Strong national and local media links, including BBC, ITV, and The Voice.
- Action: Regular contributor on ITV Meridian and BBC Radio Kent — I will leverage these channels, so the Council’s mission is clearly communicated, and participation grows across our community.
- Partnerships: I will move conversations from donations to strategic partnerships, showing how skills and expertise directly build a stronger Jamaica.
Strategic Priorities for Jamaica
1) Professionalising Social Care — Work with the government to develop a national regulatory framework and licensing system, creating clear career paths and raising standards.
2) The Brain Bridge — An earn, learn, and return scheme enabling health and social care professionals (and teachers) to gain global experience and return with advanced skills to strengthen Jamaica’s systems.
3) Sustainable Communities — Shift from reliance on grants to asset‑based local development; help parishes identify assets, attract investment, and become economically self‑sufficient.
Pledges — Backed by My Career
- I pledge to help professionalise Social Care: I will bring my 40+ years of health and social care leadership and my experience working with national social work regulators, Universities and national sector bodies such as Skills for Care, British Association of Social Work, and the International Federation of Social Work to help Jamaica establish its first mandatory regulatory framework.
I pledge to help bridge the “Brain Drain”: I will utilise my experience in developing national programmes such as the learning and development programme for the Gold Star rated. UK return-to-practice model. A programme which has already supported 300 professionals. I will work with the Council and the Government to create a circular, reciprocal exchange for Jamaican social workers, nurses, and teachers.
I pledge to Champion Sustainable Parishes: Using my expertise as a Chair and NED in winning successful tenders, I will help our parishes move from grant-dependency to asset-based, self-sufficient growth.
Putting Words into Action: My 9-Month Strategic Roadmap
Months 1–2: Building the Foundation (Awareness & Engagement)
- Goal: Expand the participation of our 800,000-strong UK Diaspora in the Council’s work.
- Action: I will use my established media presence (ITV, BBC, The Voice) and 15,000+ followers to bridge the gap between Kingston and the UK South.
- The Why: Robust communication is the backbone of the National Diaspora Policy’s Strategic Objective A. By driving engagement toward official tools like Connect Meja and JA Diaspora Engage, I will ensure our community is digitally integrated and ready to meet our Vision 2030 goals.
Months 3–4: Raising the Standard (Policy & Social Care)
- Goal: Provide substantive policy advice to elevate Jamaica’s social care sector.
- Action: Drawing on 40+ years of experience and academic links (e.g., King’s College London), I will develop a formal roadmap for a mandatory regulatory framework.
- The Why: To fulfil Vision 2030 National Outcome 1.3, Jamaica needs “world-class care and protection.” By professionalising social work, we deliver on the NDP’s mandate for Institutional Strengthening, ensuring our most vulnerable citizens are supported by accountable, high-standard services.
Months 5–6: The Brain Bridge (Reciprocal Exchange)
- Goal: Turn migration into a circular pathway for professional growth.
- Action: I will collaborate with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, and Education to formalise an “Earn, Learn, and Return” scheme for health and education professionals.
- The Why: This directly supports NDP Thematic Area 2 (Human Capital Exchanges). By fostering mutuality and reciprocity, we shift from “brain drain” to “brain circulation,” feeding global expertise back into Jamaica’s local systems as part of our national development.
Months 7–9: Delivering Results (Accountability & Evaluation)
- Goal: Move beyond talk to measurable impact.
- Action: I will implement a results-based reporting framework, conduct site visits, and participate in international forums to track progress on the ground.
- The Why: My leadership is rooted in the NDP Principles of Accountability and Sustainability. By aligning our success measures with the Medium-Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework (MTF), I will ensure every council action provides tangible, lasting benefits toward Jamaica’s developed country status.
Commitment
Whether elected or not, I will continue working in partnership to drive systemic change that benefits Jamaicans in the UK and Jamaica.
Connect
Website: www.chinaraenterprises.com www.macacharity.org.uk | www.creativemedway.co.uk | www.wearemedway.co.uk
Social: Facebook — carol.stewart.1004 | Instagram — @chinara_enterprises | Bluesky — @chinaraenterprises.bsky.social
If you have registered to vote then scan the QR code to vote for me
Thank you for reading
