News
| May 7, 2021

Jamaica opens arms to first female Dom Rep envoy in over a decade

Gavin Riley

Gavin Riley / Our Today

administrator
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Newly appointed Dominican Republic Ambassador to Jamaica, Angie Shakira Martínez Tejera. (Our Today photo)

Newly appointed Dominican Republic Ambassador to Jamaica, Angie Shakira Martínez Tejera kick-started her diplomatic mission on the island on Friday (May 7), having presented her credentials to Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith.

Martínez, an international lawyer, was the first-ever accredited ambassador to be received in the ministry’s new Port Royal Street headquarters in downtown Kingston.

Ambassador Angie Shakira Martínez Tejera presenting her credentials to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith. (Our Today photo)

The ambassador—joined by her husband and the Dominican Republic’s Permanent Representative to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) based in Kingston, Edward Perez, as well as Consular at the Dominican Republic Embassy in Jamaica, Hamlet Gomez—was introduced to Senator Johnson Smith by Director of Protocol Franz Hall.

Ambassador Angie Shakira Martínez Tejera (centre) joined by her husband and the Dominican Republic’s Permanent Representative to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) based in Kingston, Edward Perez (right), as well as Consular at the Dominican Republic Embassy in Jamaica, Hamlet Gomez (left). (Our Today photo)

Martínez Tejera becomes the first female ambassador to the English-speaking nation since Filomena Navarro, and immediately succeeds Jose Tomas Ares, whose missions ended in 2009 and 2019 respectively.

Mrs Martínez Tejera hailed the 57 years of diplomatic relations between the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

In her opening remarks, Martínez Tejera said that the Dominican Republic has sought to re-strengthen ties with Jamaica as it views the island as a leader within the Caribbean.

Ambassador Martínez later paid a visit to King’s House in St Andrew, where she also presented her credentials to Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen.

Ambassador Angie Shakira Martínez Tejera presenting her credentials to Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen. (Our Today photo)

Appointed by President Luis Abinader, Martínez Tejera has over 17 years of diplomatic experience and previously represented the Dominican Republic in Madrid, Paris and at the United Nations (UN) in Geneva.

Tags
Ambassador Angie Shakira Martínez Tejera Dominican Republic Dominican Republic-Jamaica relations downtown Kingston Governor-General Patrick Allen King's House Minister Kamina Johnson Smith Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade Port Royal Street

Comments

What To Read Next

News JAM Apr 1, 2026

Young Jamaica calls for resignation of MP Dennis Gordon over UHWI tax exemption scandal

Reading Time: 2 minutesYoung Jamaica, the youth arm of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has called for the resignation of East Central St Andrew Member of Parliament Dennis Gordon following revelations made during a recent session of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

“Young Jamaica, take note of confirmation during yesterday’s Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that JACDEN Limited is among the multi-million dollar beneficiaries of what a recent report from the Auditor General revealed to be the unlawful and inappropriate use of the tax exemption status of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI),” the youth arm said in a statement.
News JAM Apr 1, 2026

PAHO and MOHW conclude after-action review workshop to boost hurricane preparedness

Reading Time: 3 minutesThe Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), recently concluded a two-day After-Action Review (AAR) workshop held from March 24–25. The workshop aimed to strengthen Jamaica’s preparedness and response systems following the impact of Hurricane Melissa.

After-Action Reviews are a standard tool in emergency management, used to assess response efforts, capture lessons learned, and improve coordination, planning, and operational systems for future events. Importantly, aligning the AAR process with the International Health Regulations (IHR) ensures that the evaluation of public health emergencies meets globally recognised standards, strengthening Jamaica’s ability to detect, assess, report, and respond to health threats in a timely and effective manner.
News USA Apr 1, 2026

USCIS strengthens screening and vetting of immigration applicants

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a series of strengthened screening and vetting measures aimed at enhancing national security and public safety, particularly for applicants from high-risk countries.

In a statement released Tuesday (March), USCIS said its review of pending workloads and benefit applications revealed that prior screening measures were “wholly inadequate.” According to the agency, many applicants for naturalisation and lawful permanent residence were not sufficiently vetted, creating risks to national security and public safety while undermining the integrity of the immigration system.