Jamaica joined Caribbean partners in Washington, D.C., earlier today for a high-level Dialogue with the United States of America aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in trade and investment, energy, security and disaster resilience. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith led Jamaica’s delegation to the meeting at the United States (US) Department of State, where Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers and senior officials from across the Caribbean held discussions with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and other US officials. For CARICOM Member States present, the Dialogue builds on recent discussions among CARICOM Heads of Government and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saint Kitts and Nevis in February, which reaffirmed a commitment to cooperation on shared regional priorities. The United States maintains longstanding economic, security and people-to-people ties with countries across the region and in Jamaica’s case, remains the island’s largest trading partner, principal source market for tourism and home to the largest Jamaican community outside the country. #mfaftja

Foreign Minister, Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith, is en route to Washington, D.C., to participate in the US-Caribbean Dialogue. She is accompanied by Under Secretary in the Bilateral and Hemispheric Relations Division, Ambassador Symone Betton-Nayo. Watch as Minister Johnson Smith outlines Jamaica’s priorities ahead of the summit. #mfaftja

Members of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council (GJDYC) this week joined Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Honourable Alando Terrelonge (@terrelonge2016 ), for strategic discussions on strengthening diaspora engagement and collaboration. The discussions held virtually on Tuesday (October 13) spanned regional initiatives, sectoral partnerships and upcoming Diaspora conferences, as well as ways to build on the outcomes of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference. The ongoing dialogue between Jamaica and its diaspora underscores the value of sustained partnership in harnessing the expertise, networks and contributions of Jamaicans worldwide in support of national development priorities.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Honourable Alando Terrelonge, today (October 13), received a farewell courtesy call from Jamaica’s Ambassador-designate to Japan, Mrs. Ariel Bowen. Minister Terrelonge congratulated the Ambassador-designate on her appointment and wished her a successful tenure. The meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the longstanding friendship between Jamaica and Japan, including cooperation in trade, education and cultural exchange, as well as the continued importance of people-to-people ties. The Minister of State also extended best wishes to Mrs. Bowen as she prepares to contribute to the continued strengthening of the Jamaica-Japan partnership. #mfaftja

Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Honourable Alando Terrelonge, met briefly with Mr. José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the margins of the Commission’s 41st Session in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. The exchange provided an opportunity to reflect on the region’s development priorities and the importance of regional cooperation in addressing the economic and social challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean. Jamaica expressed appreciation for ECLAC’s analytical reports that guided the work of the Session and shared our own view on the importance of productive and transformative development to advancing economic and social transformation across Latin America and the Caribbean. ECLAC Member States gathered to consider how the region can adapt to a changing global environment, strengthen economic resilience and advance sustainable development, with particular attention to the needs and vulnerabilities of small island developing states. #mfaftja

Jamaica is calling for deeper regional cooperation on digital transformation, climate resilience and development financing. Representing Jamaica at the Special Meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC), Minister of State, the Honourable Alando Terrelonge (@terrelonge2016 ), urged Caribbean countries to harness emerging technologies and secure the resources needed to advance sustainable development. He also reaffirmed Jamaica’s advocacy for reforms to the international financial architecture, including the use of measures beyond GDP in determining access to concessional financing for Small Island Developing States. Swipe to read the full release.

Jamaica joined fellow OAS Member States in Washington for the 31st Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on the situation in Nicaragua, supporting a Resolution adopted by consensus. Foreign Minister @kaminajsmith said the people of Nicaragua “must remain at the centre of efforts to address the country’s challenges.” See the full release.

As regional concern deepened over political and human rights developments in Nicaragua and their implications for democratic governance, Foreign Ministers from across the hemisphere recently convened in Washington for the 31st Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organisation of American States (OAS). Jamaica was represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith, who joined the deliberations on the situation in Nicaragua and supported a Resolution which Member States adopted by consensus. The Foreign Minister said Jamaica approached the deliberations with a desire to see a peaceful, stable, prosperous and democratic Nicaragua, and noted that the ability to reach consensus demonstrated a shared commitment to the Inter-American Democratic System and to the Charter. #mfaftja

Foreign Minister Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith today handed Mrs. Ariel Bowen her Letters of Credence and Recall ahead of her departure for Tokyo, where she will serve as Jamaica’s seventh Ambassador to Japan. Their discussions centred on priorities for the assignment and opportunities to further strengthen the longstanding Jamaica–Japan (J-J) partnership, underpinned by diplomatic relations established in 1964. Mrs. Bowen has been a Foreign Service officer for more than three decades. While based in Tokyo, she will lead Jamaica’s diplomatic representation in Japan, with concurrent accreditation to Australia, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand and the Philippines. Her work will span trade, development cooperation, education and people-to-people ties, while further strengthening Jamaica’s bilateral relationships across the region.