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IND | May 24, 2022

India backs Johnson Smith for Commonwealth Secretary General

Juanique Tennant

Juanique Tennant / Our Today

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Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith (left), Prime Minister Andrew Holness (centre) and President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind (right) during the president’s recently concluded state visit to Jamaica.

Following a recently concluded state visit by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind to Jamaica, the Government of India has declared its support for Senator Kamina Johnson Smith in her candidature for the post of Commonwealth Secretary-General.

Johnson Smith will next month go up against incumbent Baroness Patricia Scotland when an election for the post is held at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.

In a statement from the Johnson Smith-led Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade earlier today (May 24), it was noted that the Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar expressed his Government’s assurance that her “excellent credentials and impeccable track record can offer the right leadership to the Commonwealth at this important juncture”.

Jaishankar further expressed the desire for collaboration to “ensure that the Commonwealth’s relevance and priorities are effectively met”.

Ram Nath Kovind, president of India, arriving in Jamaica. (Photo: Twitter @kaminajsmith)

India’s endorsement follows the historical state visit of President Shri Ram Nath Kovind to Jamaica, the first by an Indian Head of State.

The state visit coincided with Jamaica’s and India’s celebration of 60 and 75 years of independence respectively, as well as the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In welcoming the endorsement, Johnson Smith said she shared the intent expressed by Jaishankar to strengthen the excellent coordination between the two countries on a wide range of issues of mutual interest in the multilateral fora and affirmed that she also looks forward to “engaging in robust multilateral co-operation, including within the family of connected and committed Commonwealth nations”.

India’s endorsement is the latest in a stream of various Commonwealth countries who have indicated their support for Johnson Smith, including the United Kingdom and Trinidad and Tobago who announced their support days before.

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