Prime Minister Andrew Holness has refuted claims that the country is destroying its reputation of activism as he sought to provide clarity on Jamaica’s position on the Israel-Hamas war.

His comments follows criticisms over Jamaica’s failure to cast its vote at the United Nation’s General Assembly that called for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza.

Holness, who was responding to questions posed by journalists at a press briefing on Wednesday, declared that Jamaica’s position is that a humanitarian cause is needed in Gaza.

“We don’t want to see innocent people die, and that is our position. It is indeed an unfortunate circumstance that we did not get to cast a vote or physically make the vote, but… everything that we have said and done, including delivering a statement on behalf of CARICOM and helping to craft and word and draft the statement, suggests that that would have been our vote,” said the prime minister.

He added that the consideration to rectify the issue post-vote is being given “because we would not want it to be a continued distraction from what we intend to be our position, which is quite clear that our position is we support the humanitarian interventions for the Palestinian people.”

Jamaica’s foreign policy handled with care

The Opposition has been vocal in expressing its disappointment that Jamaica did not cast a vote at the United Nations General Assembly on the issue.

In a statement by Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Lisa Hanna, she insisted that portfolio minister Kamina Johnson Smith should resign her post, arguing that Jamaica is destroying its reputation of activism and courage.

The call was supported by Opposition Leader Mark Golding, who labelled the Government’s failure to vote as a “disgrace”.

According to Johnson Smith, consultations did not conclude in time for Jamaica to participate in the vote. She added that this was due to a “technical cross in communication”.

In responding to the criticisms, Holness said Jamaica has “maintained a consistent foreign policy and operated in a strategic way to ensure we also look out for our national interest”.

“When it comes to Jamaica’s foreign policy, we handle it very carefully. There are those who are trying to suggest that, somehow, our foreign policy and position globally have been diminished. If we were to look at the facts, Jamaica has never been on so many international platforms,” he stressed.

The prime minister said Jamaica has relationships with both Israel and Palestine and has voted on matters that have to do with either country. However, the country is concerned about the innocent lives that are being lost, particularly those of innocent children.

The Israel-Hamas war started on October 7, when Hamas launched an assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip.