Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting Postponed To 2025

Jamaica’s hosting of the 10^th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting is being pushed back from 2021 to 2025.

Cabinet has approved Jamaica’s request for the deferral, consequent on the coronavirus (CoVID-19) pandemic and requirements for the event to be held face-to-face.

This was announced by Education, Youth, and Information Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, during last Wednesday’s (September 22) Post-Cabinet digital media briefing.

Mrs. Williams said the rescheduling will afford Jamaica more time to prepare, and to more strategically position the country to leverage the full benefits to be derived from hosting the event.

The Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting, which is held every four years, allows participants to debate emerging development issues, share good practices, and identify collaborative opportunities.

Mrs. Williams also advised that Cabinet approved the conclusion and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service in the Ministry of External Affairs, Republic of India, on cooperation in the field of diplomatic training.

She said the MOU is expected to improve future diplomatic course offerings by India to Jamaica, leading to “deeper and more meaningful cooperation in diplomatic training with the Government of India, to support capacity-building within the Jamaican Foreign Service.”

“Jamaica and the Republic of India have been actively engaged on a wide range of issues of mutual interest. India has remained a close bilateral partner over the years, providing financial, technical, and capacity-building support, including in the area of diplomatic training,” Minister Williams indicated.