As the year drew to a close, the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Jamaica celebrated, in grand fashion, the commemoration of the 58th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, with a gala event dubbed ‘Cigar, Rum and Food: A Taste of the Dominican Republic’, at the official Residence, hosted by the Dominican Ambassador to Jamaica, Her Excellency Angie Shakira Martínez Tejera, and Ambassador Edward Aníbal Pérez Reyes, Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the International Seabed Authority.

This regal affair saw in attendance a number of individuals from the Jamaican Government and Parliament; members of the Diplomatic Corp; representatives of international organizations; media executives; heads from the Jamaican and Dominican business communities and agencies; influencers; and key figures from the academia and civil society.

The opening speech was delivered by Ambassador Angie Martínez, who gave a review of the many achievements brokered by the Dominican Mission, which included the Dom Rep School Adoption Initiative and its Infrastructure Development Program, which say the heading over of the newly painted Franklin Town Primary School, to the principal, faculty, students, parents and the community at large.

However, the most significant goal attained in the almost 60 years of ties of friendship, is the start of direct flight operations between the Dominican Republic and Jamaica via their capital cities of Santo Domingo and Kingston, with the flagship Airline, Arajet.

Ambassador Martínez spotlighted the momentous success stating, “after a year of hard work, we were able to obtain official authorisation from the Jamaican government, giving the go ahead to Dominican airlines to operate direct commercial flights between the two territories. This development is truly an important diplomatic achievement. The people from both countries will have the opportunity learn about each other’s culture and norms on a deeper, more personal level and share. This achievement will allow us to connect better, understand us better, love each other more.”

Her Excellency went on to thank all those who were crucial to making it happen, notably the CEO and Founder of the Airline, Mr. Victor Pacheco. “For this achievement I would wholeheartedly want to thank the Hon. Audley Shaw, Minister of Transport and Mining and Mr. Nari Williams- Singh, Director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, along with the Foreign Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith; the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Investment, Senator Aubyn Hill; of course the Minister of Tourism, not only the Jamaica but of the world, my dear Minister Edmund Bartlett; among other anonymous friends and allies without whom, this most important achievement would not have been possible.”

The Ambassador further spoke of the multimillion-dollar expansion drive which are being undertaken by Dominican investments in Jamaica, represented by companies such as Domicen with Anchor Cement, Hyundai Magna Motors Jamaica, Newport Fersan Limited, IMCA-Caterpillar Jamaica, DIESTRO Limited, SilvarPole Limited, Therrestra, as well as Jamaican investments in the Dominican Republic such as JMMB Group, Jamaica Producers, Norbrook Equity Partner, Sygnus Group, Willcom Creative, among others.

Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, in her remarks, extended greeting to the Government of the Dominican, especially to her Foreign Affairs counterpart, His Excellency Roberto Álvarez, and spoke of the strength of the bilateral partnership through “the establishment of bilateral agreement, Memorandum of understand and high-level exchanges, that has promoted mutually beneficial cooperation in areas including investment and trade promotion, multi-destination tourism and air services.

The Jamaican Foreign Minister also added her voice in celebration of the direct air connectivity, “The signing of the multi-destination agreement, and the recent inaugural launch of Arajet Airlines, with bi-weekly nonstop direct flights from Santo Domingo to Jamaica, has injected new dynamism into our partnership. If I may say so, Ambassador’s energy alone has also injected new dynamism into our partnership, and we look forward to continuing to work together to increase our people-to-people ties.”

Minister Johnson Smith further reiterated her gratitude to the Dominican Government on the support that was extended to the Jamaica Government and its people during the hardship of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the donation of 50,000 doses of vaccines, for the benefit of the Jamaican people.

The evening saw the beautiful display of an assortment of Dominican cigars whose fragrance fill the night air, as well as the tasting of the best Dominican rums, allowing the hundreds of guests to delve into the Dominican culture, while the fusion of flavors of Jamaican and Dominican gastronomy, as well as local and Dominican musical expressions, created the perfect environment to signify and project the excellent ties of friendship that have united the Dominican Republic and Jamaica for 58 years.

Among the guests who attended the reception were the President of the Senate of Jamaica, Senator the Honourable Tom Tavares-Finson; House Speaker, the Honourable Marisa Dalrymple Philbert; the Minister of Finance and the Public Service, the Honourable Dr. Nigel Clarke; Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill; Jampro’s President, Ms. Diane Edwards; the Presidents of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Michael McMorris and Mr. Oral Heaven; the Executive Director of the Private Sector of Jamaica (PSOJ), Mrs. Imega Breese McNab; among others.

Long Service Award

There was the presentation of a plaque to the Embassy’s only Jamaican employee, Mr. Linton McKay, the Executive Attaché to Ambassador Martínez, for his years of service, with over twelve (12) years employment at the Mission; his unconditional dedication and performance with high sense of excellence, as well as for his valuable contribution to strengthening the bonds of friendship between the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

The inscription on the plaque reads as follows:

Embassy of the Dominican Republic

“The Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Jamaica, in the framework of the 58th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Jamaica, recognizes, with deep gratitude:

LINTON LA-SHAWN MCKAY

————————————

for his years of service at the Embassy, for his unconditional dedication and performance with a high sense of excellence, as well as for his valuable contribution to strengthening the bonds of friendship between the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.  Presented in the city of Kingston, Jamaica, on the 15th day of December 2022.”

The occasion saw the guests taken on a musical journey with the melodious tunes from the talented Jamaican group, The Effortless Band, and DJ Andy, who had the patrons dancing until late into the night.

The event was sponsored by important Dominican and Jamaican companies, such as Domicen, ANCHOR CEMENT, Pepsi Cola Jamaica, JMBB Group, DIESTRO Limited, SilvarPole Limited, Grace Kennedy, Therrestra, InterEnergy, Arajet, Cigars La Aurora, La Flor Dominicana, OLIVER & Oliver Rum, BARCELÓ Rum, Bermudez Rum, La Aurora Rum, Megamart, Red Stripe, Jamaica Producers, Wisynco, Helados Bon and Hyundai Magna Motors, as well as the collaboration of INTABACO, PROCIGAR and ADOPRON.