分类： politics

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has issued a strategic directive to Jamaica’s diplomatic corps, emphasizing foreign policy as the cornerstone for achieving complete economic independence. Addressing heads of mission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade on Wednesday, Holness declared the current decade pivotal for transforming Jamaica’s sovereignty from political autonomy to economic self-reliance.

Holness articulated that while Jamaica has maintained political sovereignty since 1962, true independence remains ‘hollow’ without fiscal credibility, institutional robustness, competitive industries, and resilience against external shocks. ‘The only way to fulfil your political objectives is to make sure that you are economically independent,’ he stated, framing economic strength as the bedrock of national sovereignty.

The Prime Minister tasked diplomats with leveraging Jamaica’s international credibility to attract investments, generate employment, and forge strategic partnerships. He emphasized their role as custodians of Jamaica’s global image, urging them to amplify the nation’s progress in macroeconomic management, post-pandemic recovery, and hurricane resilience—particularly referencing Hurricane Beryl’s devastation and the targeted reconstruction response.

Holness also highlighted national security achievements, including reduced violence and homicide rates over the past three years, and instructed diplomats to communicate these gains globally. ‘We are moving towards peace, and that’s the message you will take to the global community,’ he asserted.

This week-long consultative meeting—the first since 2018—includes 20 diplomatic and consular posts and 85 consulates. Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith characterized the gathering as an ‘internal reset’ to align foreign policy with evolving domestic and international landscapes, ensuring Jamaica’s priorities are advanced with professional conviction worldwide.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a significant parliamentary development, Damion Crawford, a prominent Member of Parliament from the People’s National Party (PP), has voluntarily stepped down from his position on the Public Administration and Appropriation Committee (PAAC). The decision was formally announced during Thursday’s ceremonial opening of Parliament, where Crawford provided detailed explanations for his departure.

Crawford emphasized that his resignation was entirely self-motivated and not the result of external pressure from party leadership. He expressed fundamental disagreements with the operational framework and organizational structure of the committee, stating, “My disagreement with the committee’s organizational approach would inevitably lead to significant inefficiencies if allowed to persist.”

The parliamentarian further elaborated on his philosophical stance, employing a carefully crafted metaphor to express his concerns about treatment standards. While not naming specific individuals, Crawford advocated for individuals from lower-income backgrounds and grassroots communities to maintain self-respect and avoid being marginalized by ambitious political maneuvers.

Addressing speculation about internal party conflicts, Crawford acknowledged differing perspectives with fellow PNP MP Peter Bunting regarding committee management but firmly denied any personal dispute. “Comrade Bunting and I collaborated effectively in the Senate previously. Our current divergence stems solely from differing operational philosophies regarding this specific committee’s management,” Crawford clarified.

In a revealing segment of his address, Crawford openly discussed his long-term political aspirations, confirming his ambition to eventually lead the party while reaffirming his commitment to party stability. “I’ve never concealed my hope to someday become the principal decision-maker. This organization represents ideological alignment rather than social camaraderie,” he stated pragmatically.

Crawford concluded with a strategic perspective on party timelines, noting, “According to our revised party regulations, the next leadership election occurs in 2027, making any destabilizing actions politically imprudent for the forthcoming two-year period.”

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Prime Minister Mia Mottley has secured an unprecedented third consecutive total victory in Barbados’ parliamentary elections, cementing her political dominance in the Caribbean nation. The Barbados Labour Party (BLP), under Mottley’s leadership, captured every parliamentary seat for the third straight election—a feat only previously accomplished by former Grenada Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell in the region.

The 60-year-old leader, who made history in 2018 as Barbados’ first female prime minister by winning all 30 parliamentary seats, repeated the electoral sweep in Wednesday’s general election. Mottley comfortably retained her St Michael North East constituency and announced her new cabinet would be sworn in Monday, with Parliament’s first session scheduled for next Friday.

Addressing supporters at party headquarters in Bridgetown, Mottley reflected on her government’s journey since 2018: ‘We thought we would move to a growth path,’ she stated, referencing the unexpected challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic that interrupted those plans. Despite global setbacks, her administration has pursued national transformation over the past two-and-a-half years.

The Prime Minister emphasized her government’s commitment to substantive progress: ‘We did not come to hold office, we come to make Barbados better and your lives better.’ She also highlighted the BLP’s upcoming 88th anniversary as a political organization while stressing the importance of maintaining democratic institutions as Barbados approaches its 60th independence anniversary and fifth year as a republic.

Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP) suffered another devastating defeat, with leader Ralph Thorne losing his St John’s constituency to BLP candidate Charles Griffith. Thorne, who had defected from the BLP to become opposition leader, called the results ‘disappointing’ despite claiming his party ‘acquitted ourselves well.’

Political analyst Peter Wickham noted the stark contrast between the parties: ‘The BLP has grown and evolved, while the same cannot be said of the DLP.’ He characterized the DLP’s campaign as ‘horrible’ and called for leadership changes and organizational reform within the opposition party.

This election marked a historic milestone as international observer missions from CARICOM and the Commonwealth monitored Barbados’ electoral process for the first time, signaling the growing international significance of the nation’s democratic exercises.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, Jamaica’s Chief of Defence Staff, is representing the Caribbean nation at the inaugural Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense Conference in the United States capital. The high-level military gathering, convened by U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, brings together senior defense officials from approximately 34 nations across the hemisphere.

The Jamaica Defence Force confirmed Wemyss-Gorman’s participation through an official social media announcement. The conference serves as a strategic platform for military leaders to address collective security concerns and enhance regional cooperation mechanisms.

Central to the discussions are transnational security threats affecting Western Hemisphere nations, including illicit drug trafficking and the proliferation of illegal firearms across borders. The dialogue builds upon previous diplomatic engagements between the United States and Caribbean partners.

This development follows earlier commitments expressed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his 2025 visit to Jamaica, where he pledged continued American support for Jamaica’s crime prevention initiatives and efforts to disrupt cross-border criminal networks. The conference represents a significant step in strengthening multilateral defense relationships and developing coordinated strategies against shared security challenges in the region.