Jamaica joins the international community in observance of UN Day today, 24th October, as the United Nations commemorates 81 years of its founding. In marking the occasion, we highlight the words of Foreign Minister, Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith, delivered on 26th September this year in Jamaica’s policy statement to the General Debate. #mfaftja

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith, held bilateral talks with United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau @DeputySecState during the high-level US-Caribbean Dialogue, held in Washington, D.C., last week. The bilateral meeting provided an opportunity for the Foreign Minister to reiterate Jamaica’s appreciation to the Government and people of the United States @USEmbassyJA for their generous support following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. The United States was among the first responders to provide emergency supplies to Jamaica in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane. The Foreign Minister apprised the Deputy Secretary of the post-disaster reconstruction and resilience building projects to be undertaken in Jamaica, which will be spearheaded by the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA). Additionally, Jamaica welcomes the announcement of additional U.S. support to strengthen the region’s energy, health and security sectors. The State Department announced $66 million in CBSI programming to strengthen Caribbean partners’ ability to counter transnational criminal organizations and secure the region’s borders. Minister Johnson Smith reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to working constructively with the Government of the United States and the US private sector, to strengthen investment partnerships and to deepen cooperation in other areas of mutual interest. #mfaftja

Jamaica joined Caribbean partners in Washington, D.C., earlier today for a high-level Dialogue with the United States of America aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in trade and investment, energy, security and disaster resilience. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith led Jamaica’s delegation to the meeting at the United States (US) Department of State, where Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers and senior officials from across the Caribbean held discussions with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and other US officials. For CARICOM Member States present, the Dialogue builds on recent discussions among CARICOM Heads of Government and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saint Kitts and Nevis in February, which reaffirmed a commitment to cooperation on shared regional priorities. The United States maintains longstanding economic, security and people-to-people ties with countries across the region and in Jamaica’s case, remains the island’s largest trading partner, principal source market for tourism and home to the largest Jamaican community outside the country. #mfaftja

Foreign Minister, Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith, is en route to Washington, D.C., to participate in the US-Caribbean Dialogue. She is accompanied by Under Secretary in the Bilateral and Hemispheric Relations Division, Ambassador Symone Betton-Nayo. Watch as Minister Johnson Smith outlines Jamaica’s priorities ahead of the summit. #mfaftja

Members of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council (GJDYC) this week joined Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Honourable Alando Terrelonge (@terrelonge2016 ), for strategic discussions on strengthening diaspora engagement and collaboration. The discussions held virtually on Tuesday (October 13) spanned regional initiatives, sectoral partnerships and upcoming Diaspora conferences, as well as ways to build on the outcomes of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference. The ongoing dialogue between Jamaica and its diaspora underscores the value of sustained partnership in harnessing the expertise, networks and contributions of Jamaicans worldwide in support of national development priorities.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Honourable Alando Terrelonge, today (October 13), received a farewell courtesy call from Jamaica’s Ambassador-designate to Japan, Mrs. Ariel Bowen. Minister Terrelonge congratulated the Ambassador-designate on her appointment and wished her a successful tenure. The meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the longstanding friendship between Jamaica and Japan, including cooperation in trade, education and cultural exchange, as well as the continued importance of people-to-people ties. The Minister of State also extended best wishes to Mrs. Bowen as she prepares to contribute to the continued strengthening of the Jamaica-Japan partnership. #mfaftja

Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Honourable Alando Terrelonge, met briefly with Mr. José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the margins of the Commission’s 41st Session in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. The exchange provided an opportunity to reflect on the region’s development priorities and the importance of regional cooperation in addressing the economic and social challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean. Jamaica expressed appreciation for ECLAC’s analytical reports that guided the work of the Session and shared our own view on the importance of productive and transformative development to advancing economic and social transformation across Latin America and the Caribbean. ECLAC Member States gathered to consider how the region can adapt to a changing global environment, strengthen economic resilience and advance sustainable development, with particular attention to the needs and vulnerabilities of small island developing states. #mfaftja