Photo Caption: “As one of our strongest Bilateral Partners, the Unites States has supported our social and economic development. Our relationship has not been static, but has been keeping pace with the needs and interests of both parties. The Strategic Dialogue provides a timely opportunity for us to assess this enduring partnership as we focus on national security and public safety, as well as economic cooperation,” Sen. The Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, during her opening remarks, at the Jamaica-USA Strategic Dialogue on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at the Foreign Ministry’s downtown, waterfront headquarters.
Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Sen. the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith and Her Excellency Ambassador Victoria Nuland, Under-Secretary, for Political Affairs, United States of America (USA) have opened Jamaica/United States of America (USA) Strategic Dialogue, as both countries seek to deepen cooperation, in this the 60th year of Jamaica/USA bilateral diplomatic cooperation.
“As one of our strongest bilateral partners, the US has supported our social and economic development. Our relationship has not been static, but has been keeping pace with the needs and interests of both parties. The Strategic Dialogue provides a timely opportunity for us to assess this enduring partnership as we focus on national security and public safety, as well as economic cooperation,” the Minister stated during her opening remarks, on Tuesday, November 15 at the Foreign Ministry’s downtown, waterfront headquarters.
According to Minister Johnson Smith, “the new Country Development Cooperation Strategy (2020-2025), which focusses on critical issues such as citizen security, health and disaster risk reduction, underscores the US support of Jamaica’s development agenda.” She also shared that grant assistance provided to Jamaica by the US in March, 2022 amounted to some 63MUSD and that COVID-19 recovery funding assistance from the US is valued at 7.5MUSD.
Minister Johnson Smith commented on the -relationship between Jamaica and the US Agency for International Development (USAID)—the agency responsible for implementing America’s foreign economic and humanitarian assistance programmes, which has been in operation in Jamaica since 1962.“USAID’s assistance in the country have focused on promoting greater transparency and good governance practices; fostering Jamaican participation in regional security; strengthening basic education; reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS; promoting economic prosperity; and decreasing vulnerability to climate change.” The Minster also shared that “currently, Official Development Assistance (ODA) from USAID is provided solely in the form of grants, which is fully aligned with the Government of Jamaica’s thrust to reduce loan funding.
For her part, Under-Secretary Nuland described the Jamaica-USA strategic dialogue as an opportunity to “reaffirm and chart a course together around our shared commitment to prosperity”. Under Secretary Nuland also identified the rare mineral industry as a new opportunity for Jamaica-USA economic partnership. On the law enforcement agenda, the Under Secretary stated that the US government will “support Jamaica’s plans to address violent crime and homicide; cybersecurity and child trafficking, in particular.
Under-Secretary Nuland will also, on the margins of the Strategic Dialogue, meet with CARICOM Foreign Ministers, during a virtual US/CARICOM meeting on Haiti. Following that meeting, the Undersecretary will depart for the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), where she will participate in bilateral discussions with the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister.
This is Under-Secretary Nuland’s first Official Visit to Jamaica—the only Caribbean country with which the US government has a Strategic Dialogue.
