Next week, six new Ambassadors-Designate will present their Letters of Credence to the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) during Diplomatic Week, a marquee event for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. In total, twenty-six (26) resident and twenty-six (26) non-resident Heads of Mission will participate in the week’s programme under the theme: Transcending Borders, Strengthening Partnerships, Advancing Development.
Sen. the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said, “After the hiatus due to the pandemic, I look forward to welcoming the 52 diplomats who will be here in person for this year’s staging of Diplomatic Week. I am heartened by this level of participation, which we see as a testament to the strength of our bilateral relations.”
Johnson Smith highlighted that, “International partnerships are critical to the national development of our country. Diplomatic Week is important because it provides a first-hand opportunity for our partners to engage with the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, myself and colleague Ministers, senior officials of the Jamaican Government, the Consular Corps, the private sector, as well as civil society, on matters of mutual interest and concern. We make sure that formal Ministerial briefings and bilateral discussions are supplemented by less formal exchanges to ensure a well-rounded experience.”
The Foreign Minister explained that she will receive copy Letters of Credence for the Republics of Chile, Armenia and Ecuador, the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. The formalization of their accreditation to Jamaica will be completed with the subsequent presentation of their Letters to His Excellency the Governor-General.
Diplomats will also have an opportunity to see Jamaica’s cultural attributes on display and to visit places of interest which have a significant bearing on the country’s economic and social development, as well as potential for engagement on areas such as culture, tourism and investment.
The 2023 iteration of Diplomatic Week, slated for 27th February to 3rd March represents the first completely in-person staging since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020.
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