Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson-Smith, is scheduled to be in Kenya Wednesday, to sell her agenda as Commonwealth Secretary-General candidate.
Honourable Johnson-Smith’s candidature was disclosed on April 1, following Jamaica’s approval to have her vie for the position in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting from June 20 to 25 in Kigali, Rwanda.
“Minister Johnson Smith, Jamaica’s first female Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, who was first appointed in 2016, is eminently qualified for the post. She has held several crucial leadership posts both regionally and internationally, having served as president of the OACPS Council of Ministers, chair of CARIFORUM and the CARICOM Council on Trade and Economic Development. She has represented Jamaica at numerous bilateral, regional, hemispheric and international encounters and was the first Jamaican foreign minister to be invited to G7 and G20 ministerial meetings,” a statement from the office of the prime minister, Andrew Holness read.
“The Government of Jamaica has every confidence in Minister Johnson Smith’s abilities to build bridges and consensus, bringing governments and peoples to a common understanding. Her qualifications for the post of secretary-general, including her high moral character, diplomatic and political acumen, proven competence and commitment to the work of the Commonwealth make her an excellent candidate,” the state added.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General hopeful intends to travel across Commonwealth member states to express her intentions and call for support.
