Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Expresses Profound Regret at the Passing of Honourable Don Wehby

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade joins the myriad friends, family, associates and well-wishers, in expressing deep sadness and profound regret at the passing of Honourable Don Wehby, OJ, CD, on 26th July 2025.

Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Leader of Government Business in the Senate, described Mr. Wehby as, “a distinguished and principled business leader, legislator and philanthropist with whom it was a privilege to serve in the Senate, as Legacy Partner and as Chair of our Diaspora Conference Committee on more than one occasion. He demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to Jamaica’s growth and development and an unwavering belief in the capacity of every Jamaican, including those in the Diaspora, to contribute to social and economic transformation at the national level”.

The Ministry warmly acknowledges its longstanding association with Mr. Wehby, spanning several decades and the tremendous support he provided to various initiatives and programmes, especially in relation to the adoption of the National Diaspora Policy and the efforts to boost trade capacity and expand export opportunities in regional and international markets. In his role as CEO of the GraceKennedy Group, Mr. Wehby spearheaded the Group’s embrace of the biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference as a Legacy Partner and the opportunities that have been created for the Diaspora to play a constructive role in national development.

We remain grateful to Mr. Wehby for his dedication to Diaspora engagement as reflected in the multiple occasions on which he served as Chair of the Jamaica Diaspora Conference. The support provided by Mr. Wehby and the GraceKennedy Group has in fact been instrumental in ensuring the success of our conferences. Most recently, we fondly recall his active participation in the official launch of the 10th biennial Diaspora Conference in April 2024 and his exhortation to the Jamaican Diaspora to invest in their homeland, especially in the areas of digital innovation and agriculture.

Mr. Wehby has left an indelible mark on the evolution of the Jamaican social and business landscape and the impact of his immense contribution will be recognised and appreciated for generations to come. We extend deepest condolences to his family, his GraceKennedy family, friends and associates and we pray that his soul will rest in perpetual peace.