Caption: Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, formally launched Jamaica’s candidature for Secretary-General of the Commonwealth in London, United Kingdom on Thursday, 21 April 2022.
“I welcome this opportunity to launch and to lobby for our candidature in London as it is the seat of the Commonwealth. I have been provided with the opportunity to engage with members of the Board of Governors, to listen to their views and interests and to solicit support from stakeholders. It has been a true privilege to share my vision and my pledge, if appointed, to lead the Secretariat in re-energizing the delivery of meaningful support to all our Commonwealth member states. I was pleased to share my profile and candidature statement with the membership in bilateral meetings in the days prior, and will continue to do so,” said Minister Johnson Smith.
The Minister noted that, “To date, we have made outreach to member states at the highest level, to colleagues in capitals in which Jamaica maintains diplomatic missions, as well as directly with the capitals of Commonwealth countries. Lobbying efforts are being supported by a dedicated website and of course, social media. In the conduct of these activities, I have had the full support of my Ministry and of the Office of the Prime Minister.”
Following the conclusion of her activities in London on Friday, April 22, Minister Johnson Smith heads to New York to participate in the UN Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC) Forum on Financing for Development Follow-up, where she will deliver Jamaica’s national statement and also use the opportunity to lobby for the candidature.
Johnson Smith shared, “As a national and representative of a small state, I am truly inspired by the unique relationship that characterizes our Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Charter provides a strong framework for promoting peace and prosperity, as well as modalities for co-operation among our member states, fostering friendship, fraternal dialogue and mutual respect.”
A decision on the appointment of a Secretary-General is to be made during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda from June 20-25, 2022.
