Jamaica Reaffirms Commitment to Stronger Partnerships with Diplomatic Corps

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, has reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with members of the diplomatic corps to address shared priorities and challenges.

She made the pledge while addressing the Ministerial Briefing on Wednesday (March 18), held during Diplomatic Days 2026 at the Ministry’s headquarters in downtown Kingston.

“We are committed to working with all of you to address shared priorities, shared challenges, and to promote stability, democracy and resilience, together with the advancement of prosperity for our peoples,” she told the gathering of Ambassadors and High Commissioners from across the globe.

Senator Johnson Smith emphasised that, as a small island nation, Jamaica clearly understands that its future and the well-being of its people are deeply influenced by events far beyond its shores.

“We will, therefore, continue to adopt a constructive approach to our foreign policy implementation, one which prioritises peace, security and development, grounded in the essential principles that protect common interests and seek cooperation and consensus rather than division,” she stated.

The Minister reiterated that Jamaica deeply values the relationships it has cultivated with partner countries over the years and remains committed to further strengthening those partnerships in the future.

“We welcome you all in this annual event as a demonstration of our continued belief in and commitment to the strengthening and forging of partnerships [and] in acknowledging, as well, the value of our bilateral, regional and multilateral partners to our progress and our success,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Senator Johnson Smith noted that since the last meeting with Heads of Mission during Diplomatic Week 2025, Jamaica has bid farewell to 20 Heads of Mission and welcomed 14 new appointees, including seven who were accredited on March 17.

The new diplomats include Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic of Greece, His Excellency Efthymios Efthymiades; Ambassador of the State of Qatar, His Excellency Tariq Othman Al-Othman; High Commissioner of the Republic of Rwanda, His Excellency Martin Ngoga; Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye, His Excellency Aytaç Yılmaz, and High Commissioner of the Republic of Malta, His Excellency George Borg.

Mr. Borg is Malta’s first High Commissioner to Jamaica, a role the Foreign Affairs Minister welcomed as a vital step towards advancing cooperation between Kingston and the European nation’s capital, Valletta.

Diplomatic Days 2026 commenced on March 17 and will conclude on March 19 with the Annual Diplomatic Dinner, hosted by Their Excellencies, the Governor-General, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen.