Jamaica and AU Working to Achieve Economic Independence

Jamaica, through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), along with the African Union (AU), and the University of the West Indies (UWI), are partnering for economic advancement for the people of the region.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith made the assertion recently at the UWI, where South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor delivered a lecture.

“We are in many ways renewing and redoubling our efforts to deliver prosperity to our people, and to explore our connections,” Senator Johnson Smith said, adding that the world has a far way to go in respect of war and oppression, things that the late South African President, Nelson Mandela stood against.

“The work to achieve our economic independence, and overall human development remains a work in progress,” she stated.

Senator Johnson Smith noted that Dr. Pandor is a woman of “great distinction” who served at the forefront of the liberation struggles in South Africa.

“She is well placed to fully understand at its core, the struggles we and other developing countries continue to undergo, to realise not only our Independence, but our growth and development,” she stated.

For her part, Pro-Vice Chancelor at the UWI for Global Affairs, Sandrea Maynard said the Caribbean and Africa have been cooperating in a wide range of areas such as trade, financial services, climate change mitigation, education and social services, foreign policy, security, and migration.

She stated that the collaboration also involved nurturing cultural understanding, appreciation, and a sense of belonging among Africans and people of African descent.

“We have also been working on collaborative arrangements with institutions in Africa, to conduct joint research in areas of mutual interest. Just recently we received a delegation from North- West University in Johannesburg and have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with them for collaboration in a number of areas,” she said.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor further stated that the university has developed relationships with the University of Johannesburg, as well as the University of Lagos.

The UWI also established the P.J. Patterson Institute for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy, which has a broad mandate to develop and implement a framework for collaboration between institutions in the Caribbean and Africa on major issues affecting both regions.