Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica has called in top diplomats and consular officials for a series of strategic consultations in Kingston this week, as the government moves to align foreign policy priorities in what it describes as an increasingly uncertain global environment.

Heads of diplomatic and consular missions are meeting with senior leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade this week for talks aimed at strengthening coordination and ensuring Jamaica is positioned to respond to evolving geopolitical and economic shifts.

The first such meeting took place on Monday, in which Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, told the gathering is intended to ensure Jamaica’s representatives abroad are aligned on advancing the country’s interests while preparing for developments in an unpredictable global landscape. 

She disclosed that the week of strategic review and planning forms part of deliberate efforts by the government to better position Jamaica’s foreign policy for shifting economic and geopolitical realities. The week-long sessions, scheduled to conclude on Friday, are being led by Senator Johnson Smith, her Minister of State, Alando Terrelonge and Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Sheila Sealy Monteith. The programme also includes engagements with several Cabinet ministers.

The diplomatic consultations come amid heightened international attention on geopolitical shifts in CARICOM and across the wider Americas, including recent developments in Venezuela and broader realignments in global power dynamics. Johnson Smith emphasised that the meetings will allow heads of mission to brief the ministry on major developments in their respective regions while strengthening coordination on advancing Jamaica’s international priorities.

She pointed to the effectiveness of this collaborative model during crises, citing the response to Hurricane Melissa, when Jamaica’s overseas missions coordinated assistance from more than 30 countries, including medical teams, field hospitals and tens of millions of dollars in humanitarian and medical supplies. The minister also highlighted the role of Jamaica’s diplomatic network in strengthening the country’s global standing, including efforts that led to Jamaica’s removal from the European Union’s list of high-risk jurisdictions for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing deficiencies—a development that has reduced barriers for Jamaican businesses and investors.

Among those attending the meeting are Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Antony Anderson, and Consul General to the southern United States, Oliver Mair, who described the sessions as productive in a social media post, noting it was an honour to serve as part of the ministry’s team. Officials from across Government also participated, including representatives from the Ministry of National Security and Peace and the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA).

Discussions also advanced interests in the planning for the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference with participation from Legacy Partners, including Conference Chair and JN Group CEO, Earl Jarrett; VM Group President and CEO, Courtney Campbell and GraceKennedy Group CEO, Frank James.