Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Operations Under Review

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is undergoing a strategic review of its structure, size, and resourcing, particularly in respect of consular services, which respond to Jamaicans in distress overseas.

“The structure of the Ministry was never set up for the type of frequency and intensity of outbreaks which are occurring globally, and accordingly we have as a priority not only using technology to allow for ease of registration and identification of nationals overseas, but also looking at the resourcing that we have in place to address issues when they arise,” Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith informed.

She was presenting opening remarks at the meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives at Gordon House on Thursday (March 5).

She pointed out that the review comes amid changing global dynamics in a world that is fraught with tensions and the increased frequency of outbreaks of conflict, war, and humanitarian crises.

“In that context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade does take very seriously the role of ensuring that we remain agile, that we remain responsive, that we are able to anticipate where possible, and that we practice a reasoned, pragmatic, and sufficiently grounded foreign policy that protects Jamaica’s interests at all times,” the Minister outlined.

Senator Johnson Smith noted that the Ministry has several elements of its operations under review, including the National Foreign Trade Policy and its action plan.

The Ministry has also reconstituted the National Foreign Trade Council, which together with the Jam-Trade mechanism will ensure that there is a wide consultative process around its promulgation.

“We are ensuring that we review our diplomatic missions overseas to ensure we are represented appropriately where we need to be. We are looking at the consular network, which is always under review, again making sure we’re appropriately represented overseas,” Mrs. Johnson Smith said.