Government Not Currently Considering Reopening Embassy in Venezuela

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, says the Government is not presently considering the reopening of its Embassy in Venezuela.

She was responding to questions during the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives’ meeting at Gordon House on Thursday (March 5).

Senator Johnson Smith explained that while Jamaica continues to maintain diplomatic relations with Venezuela, the Embassy was closed due to operational challenges.

“We never broke diplomatic relations… that was not the reason why we closed the Mission. We were unable to pay staff. The circumstances in which they were engaged was challenging. We were unable to trade. So it was all cost and no input for the people of Jamaica,” the Minister outlined.

Senator Johnson Smith noted that although the Ministry acknowledges the United States’ decision to re establish bilateral relations with Venezuela, this was not a factor in the closure of Jamaica’s Embassy in Caracas and will not determine its reopening.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has previously indicated that Jamaica’s relations with Venezuela are being managed directly from its Headquarters in Kingston.