By Nelson A. King From Caribbean Life

Trudy Deans, who had served as community relations officer at the Jamaica’s New York Consulate General, has returned as the new Consul General.

Deans, who holds a Master of Science degree in human resource management and training from the University of Leicester, England and a Bachelor of Science degree in international relations and public administration from the University of the West Indies, has been named Jamaica’s 10th Consul General to New York, according to the South Florida Caribbean News.

She’s the fourth woman to occupy the position, the online paper said. It said Deans served previously as the Community Relations Officer from 2010 to 2012.

“My short stint as the community relations officer made me even more aware of the need for a more direct and strategic interaction and communication with the diaspora and the government,” Deans said.

“During that period, I found that the lines of communication could be unwittingly blurred,” she added. “As such, I intend to expand the scope of the consulate to embrace the emerging trends in telecommunications and technology to ensure that the community is up to date on matters of national interest and to participate in discussions affecting Jamaica and the Diaspora.”

Deans said the consulate will continue, with the assistance of her able staff, “make our role and service to the community more impactful,” according to South Florida Caribbean News.

As part of its agenda for Economic Development, the incumbent Jamaica administration is moving towards a specific thrust on trade, and the Diaspora is an important part of this agenda, South Florida Caribbean News said.

“I will assist in realizing the stated goals of the government through bi-lateral discussions as well as through other prospective partners,” Deans said.

She said she will be focusing on attracting new trade and investment, and working with the Diaspora, as well as with Jamaican organizations, “to harness the wealth of knowledge and expertise that they possess so that it can benefit Jamaica,” according to South Florida Caribbean News.

Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, said Deans’ “solid foundation in Diaspora engagement, together with her academic achievements and strong leadership and managerial skills, augur well for this position, which comes with great responsibi­lity,” according to the Jamaica Gleaner.

Prior to her appointment, the Gleaner said Deans was employed as an administrator at the International Telecommunications Union, a United Nations Agency headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

She also contributed to GraceKennedy’s legacy as human resource and training manager at Allied Insurance Brokers Limited from 2002-2010, the Gleaner said.

On Thursday, Gail L. Moaney, founding managing partner of Finn Partners, public relations agency of record for the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) greeted Deans following a lunch meeting in midtown Manhattan.

During the meeting, Moaney briefed the incoming consul general on initiatives being undertaken by the JTB to strengthen relations with the Diaspora.

The consul general welcomed the update and the partnership support to enhance Diaspora relations, according to a Finn Partners statement.

IMAGE: Finn Partners Consul General of Jamaica to New York Trudy Deans (left) and Gail L. Moaney, APR, founding managing partner of Finn Partners.

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