Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica has stated her deep shock and sadness at the death of Jamaican national Mr. Clive Peck, in tragic circumstances in Benghazi Libya on Saturday, August 10, 2019.
Minister Johnson Smith stated that while full details are yet to be determined, it is understood, that Mr. Peck and a colleague member of the UN were killed when a car bomb exploded yesterday, Saturday 10 August 2019, outside a shopping mall in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi. According to news reports, the location of the blast was near to the UN Support Mission (UNSMIL) and occurred during a cease-fire adopted by the two warring sides, which followed a proposal by the UN for a cessation of hostilities in advance of the approaching Muslim Eid alAdha holiday.
Minister Johnson Smith said, “The tragic loss of Mr. Peck is acutely felt by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Government of Jamaica in its entirety. Clive Peck served the United Nations with distinction and devoted his life to a mission of aiding the Libyan people, in the midst of one of the most severe conflicts and humanitarian crises currently underway around the world. Our hearts go out to his wife Lelieth and other members of his family, as well as to his friends and colleagues. The Minister advised that she had spoken personally with Mrs. Peck to convey her sincere personal sympathies and those of the government of Jamaica, and to assure her of any support needed through the Consulate General of New York or Jamaican Permanent Mission at the United Nations in New York during this time of bereavement.
Minister Johnson Smith also advised that the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, has conveyed his heartfelt condolences at the passing of Mr. Peck and extended “profound sympathies to his family and to the Government of Jamaica.” In addition, the Secretary-General attested to Mr. Peck’s “courage, service and dedication to the goals of the United Nations”.
In closing she stated that the Foreign Ministry is in contact with authorities at the United Nations and working closely with them to establish further details of the circumstances surrounding this devastating attack, which resulted in the heart-breaking loss of one of our own.
