Heads of Jamaica’s diplomatic and consular missions are this week gathering in Kingston for a series of high-level consultations with leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, as part of efforts to align overseas operations with national priorities.

The week-long engagement forms part of the Government’s established process to ensure those implementing the country’s foreign policy abroad remain closely connected to developments at home, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith said the consultations are designed to ensure Jamaica’s diplomatic and consular missions operate in a coordinated manner while advancing the country’s strategic interests.

“This week of strategic review and planning forms part of the Government’s deliberate efforts to better position Jamaica’s foreign policy for the shifting economic and geopolitical realities that are with us now and that may lie ahead,” the foreign minister said.

She noted that Jamaica’s missions serve as the country’s bridges to the world and that bringing Heads of Mission together strengthens the country’s ability to maintain global partnerships, secure resources for economic growth and development, and ensure Jamaicans at home and overseas benefit from a responsive and well-coordinated Foreign Service.

Minister Johnson Smith pointed to the role of the missions during times of crisis, including the passage of Hurricane Melissa, when Jamaica’s embassies and high commissions helped coordinate assistance from more than 30 countries.

That support included medical teams, field hospitals, search-and-rescue units, engineering crews, electricity line workers, maritime patrol vessels, and over 1,200 tonnes of fertiliser for farmers, along with humanitarian and medical supplies valued at tens of millions of dollars.

Beyond emergency response, the Minister said Jamaica’s missions have also contributed to strengthening the country’s international standing. She referenced efforts that supported Jamaica’s removal from the European Union’s list of high-risk countries for deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regimes, a development that has reduced barriers for Jamaican businesses and investors.

She said this and other outcomes will inform discussions focused on deepening economic diplomacy, expanding market access, and translating Jamaica’s international credibility into investment flows and other tangible opportunities.

The working sessions are being led by Minister Johnson Smith, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Alando Terrelonge, and Permanent Secretary Ambassador Sheila Sealy Monteith, and will also include engagements with various Cabinet Ministers.

The consultations are scheduled to conclude on Friday, February 13, and are expected to provide Heads of Mission with operational priorities to guide their work in the coming period.