Jamaica in Full Preparation and Activation Mode

Jamaica is under a Hurricane Watch in preparation for Hurricane Matthew, designated as a strong system that could cause significant damage to people, property and our country’s infrastructure.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, is assuring the international community, including our bilateral and international partner countries, as well as our Diaspora, that the Jamaican government is in full preparation mode.

“I wish to repeat the message of the Prime Minister of Jamaica, at the emergency meeting convened on Thursday, that we will engage our faith, but in our works we will rely on preparation to minimize damage and risk to personal health and property, as well as to optimize our ability to recover as a country.  In that regard, the Prime Minister has today toured the island to personally assess the readiness of government disaster preparedness mechanisms and to continue his call for personal responsibility and preparation, while ensuring that the Government plays its part”.

The Minister also explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is designated in the National Disaster Plan, as the Official Focal Point of the Government for interfacing and coordinating with international agencies in relation to requests for international assistance, following a disaster. Contact has therefore been made with all overseas missions in this regard.

Minister Johnson Smith added, “Initial contact has also been made with the Heads of resident Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations in Jamaica, regarding support measures for their own safety, that of their staff and families, as well as their office facilities during the hurricane. We intend to provide further information on the process for engaging with them on any assistance that their respective countries or organizations may wish to offer to Jamaica, should the need arise”.

In closing, the Minister indicated that in the event that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has to suspend its communication systems within the Ministry in Kingston, the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington DC will become the primary point of contact for international communication.