Cliff Stone, new Ambassador to Venezuela

Former cabinet minister and trade unionist, Clifton Stone, left Jamaica on Friday (November 26) for Caracas, to take up his new appointment as Jamaica’s ambassador to Venezuela.

Clifton Stone, Jamaica’s new ambassador to Venezuela

Mr. Stone, who was, up to recently, senior adviser/consultant to Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon Pearnel Charles, succeeds Ambassador Delrose Montague, who has been reassigned to Mexico. Both appointments took effect from November 1.
A graduate in political science from Howard University in the US, he was a former Minister of the Public Service (1985-1989), and Island Supervisor of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), 1965 to 1983. He was also a member of the Senate, 1980-83, and Member of Parliament for North West Clarendon. He was honoured with the Order of Distinction (OD) in 1979.
He believes that the success of his assignment to Venezuela, as Jamaica’s new ambassador, will be critical to the country’s economic recovery.
“We have a long standing association, which has continued whatever Government is in power in Jamaica or Venezuela. It is necessary for me to ensure that continuity is maintained and strengthened, because this is an excellent example of south-south cooperation,” he explained.
He said the contribution of the PetroCaribe Fund to Jamaica’s development is very significant, and it will be his duty to ensure that it is maintained and the agreements honoured. However, he states that he will also be seeking to add new areas of cooperation.
“I will be trying to improve air transportation between Jamaica and Venezuela. Venezuelan airlines fly to all other Caribbean destinations except Jamaica. I think this would boost tourism between the two countries,” he stated.