JAMAICA | Opposition Leader demands answers from PM Holness Regarding Jamaica's Commonwealth SG Candidacy

KINGSTON,  Jamaica, April 5, 2022 - Opposition Leader Mark Golding says” The manner and context of the recent announcement of Jamaica’s decision to put up a candidate as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, has created a very messy and undesirable situation.

He told parliament today that the Solidarity and unity among the region has to be nurtured, respected, and protected, noting that “we see CARICOM’s unity and solidarity, especially in the area of international relations and foreign policy, as being in our vital interests, as a group of small, vulnerable developing countries who share a common history and many common challenges.” 

The Opposition Leader pointed out that the PNP was  “committed to a principle-based, non-transactional foreign policy which has served Jamaica well over many years, enabling our country to build a much-admired reputation as a respected progressive force on the world stage.

However, he noted that “we are concerned that Jamaica has strayed from this path too often in recent years, including on matters such as Venezuela, the role of the OAS, and the election of the President of the IDB.

The Opposition leader observed that while the Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade was indeed qualified and had the experience to take on the post of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the manner and context of the recent announcement of Jamaica’s decision to put up a candidate as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, has created a very messy and undesirable situation.

Jamaica’s candidacy has unfortunately been mired in controversy and divisiveness from the outset, as a result of Jamaica changing its position without adequate prior consultation within CARICOM.

He said Jamaica’s interests would clearly be best served by promoting solidarity and forging the united support of the Commonwealth Caribbean countries.

“Since the announcement, two CARICOM Prime Ministers have publicly stated that, at the recent CARICOM meeting in Belize in March (in which Jamaica participated), the CARICOM Heads of Government expressed “overwhelming support” for the re-election of Baroness Scotland as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth,” Golding lamented.

I note that this decision of the CARICOM Heads of Government is also formally recorded in the Confirmed Summary of Conclusions of the meeting, published by the CARICOM Secretariat.

I am therefore compelled to ask a number of questions of the Prime Minister, as to the Government of Jamaica’s approach to this matter:

1. When did Jamaica first decide to put up a candidate for the office of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth?

2. If that decision was made before the recent CARICOM meeting in Belize in March, why did the Government fail to make it clear at that Belize meeting that Jamaica would be putting up its own candidate for Secretary-General of the Commonwealth?

3. Does this situation mean that Jamaica’s candidate for Commonwealth Secretary-General will fail to enjoy unanimous support from the other CARICOM countries, given the level of support for the re-election of the existing Secretary-General?

4. Jamaica’s candidacy has unfortunately been mired in controversy and divisiveness from the outset, as a result of Jamaica changing its position without adequate prior consultation within CARICOM.

Could this situation not have been avoided by Jamaica properly laying the wicket to ensure that Jamaica’s candidate would enjoy full support from CARICOM, and therefore have the best chance of success in the June election of the Commonwealth Secretary-General in Rwanda?" Golding asked.

In the meantime, while Prime Minister Holness did not answer the Opposition Leader's questions in Parliament today,  he said "Jamaica has been engaged in a process of consultation with Heads of CARICOM regarding the possible candidature of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith.

Holness also informed  the parliament, that discussions had also been held to seek a better understanding of their thinking about the leadership of the organisation.

“With very limited exception, the responses of the Heads of State and Government as well as foreign ministers with whom we have engaged across regions, have been extremely encouraging, with several of them voluntarily committing to seek support for the candidature from their regional colleagues,” Prime Minister Holness said.

“On the strength of that feedback and, more importantly, my personal knowledge of the minister’s unwavering commitment to public service in the interest of global development, we took a sovereign decision to put forward our candidature that has demonstrated the skill, energy and competence to bring unity, accountability and focus to leadership of the Secretariat and the wider Commonwealth family,” Holness added.

“We can unequivocally say that Heads are aware that there has never been a unanimous position of support for the incumbent,” he stated.

Mr. Holness said CARICOM member states have previously raised the question as to whether “we should seek to identify an alternative Caribbean candidate”.

“We believe that Jamaica’s candidature, a Caribbean candidate, is good for the region and the wider Commonwealth. We are providing an alternative in response to persisting issues and the strong positive response to consultations on Minister Johnson Smith’s candidacy. Against this background, there is no need to position the decision of Jamaica as controversial or divisive. It is never Jamaica’s intention to seek to divide our CARICOM family,” he said.

Meanwhile, Holness said there is no correlation between Minister Johnson Smith’s candidature and the State Visit of Rwanda President Paul Kagame, to Jamaica next week.

He said the Government looked forward to hosting the leader of one of the most progressive countries on the African continent. President Kagame will be the incoming Chairman-in-Office of the Commonwealth Conference of Heads of State and Government for the coming two years.

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