Caption: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith
Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, will engage with Heads of State and Government and Foreign Ministers of Commonwealth countries in Africa, namely: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, as she continues her campaign for the post of Commonwealth Secretary-General (SG).
Minister Johnson Smith departed Jamaica on Friday, May 6 and will use the working visit to several capital cities in Africa, to share her vision of re-imagining and re-energizing support for the Commonwealth.
The Minister underscored that, “In an increasingly challenging global environment, the Commonwealth must be visionary and responsive, recognising always the diversity of our membership, comprising states at various stages of development.” She also committed to “working with members to generate more strategically targeted action in response to the challenges faced by our 2.5 billion citizens.” These challenges, the Minister noted, range from “expediting the pace of recovery from the pandemic, to effective action on climate finance and resilience, to supporting each other in times of crisis.”
Jamaica’s Commonwealth SG candidate also emphasised the importance of access to development financing and technical cooperation to “promote business, trade and investment across the Commonwealth.” Johnson Smith also intends to, “raise the profile of critical development issues experienced across the Commonwealth including the vulnerabilities of Small States.” She expressed her aspirations for Gender and Youth Empowerment, Governance and good offices within and by the Commonwealth, as she is committed to, “drive more purposeful and visionary action to promote and protect the principles and values of the Commonwealth family.”
Minister Johnson Smith formally launched Jamaica’s candidature for Secretary-General of the Commonwealth in London, United Kingdom on Thursday, 21st April 2022.
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.
