Top Marks: Is Audrey Marks returning to Jamaica to take up the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade?
/ Our Today
administrator
If it is to be believed, a cabinet shuffle is imminent.
Word comes that Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks is all set to return to Jamaica and succeed Kamina Johnson Smith as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Johnston Smith is expected to move to the Ministry of Education, replacing the beleaguered Fayval Williams.
Marks has operated now under three Presidents, namely Barack Obama, Donald Trump and now Joe Biden.
Many acknowledge that she acquitted herself well and that she would be the perfect fit to head the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
““The major challenge I would say is that during my first period as Ambassador I had a particular focus (transhipment). When I returned, I had a wider focus including building bilateral relationships, engaging with our Diaspora and looking for investment opportunities. On the bilateral front, that can be challenging as a small country getting the attention of the United States of America.”
Audrey Marks, Jamaican ambassador to the United States
Marks is not stiff and rigid and approaches diplomacy with equanimity and poise. She could be the Talleyrand of the Caribbean.
Speaking last month on Global Perspectives with David Dumke on PBS, Marks gave an insight into the challenges she has faced during her tenure as Jamaica’s Ambassador to Washington.
“The major challenge I would say is that during my first period as Ambassador I had a particular focus (transhipment). When I returned, I had a wider focus including building bilateral relationships, engaging with our Diaspora and looking for investment opportunities.
On the bilateral front, that can be challenging as a small country getting the attention of the United States of America.”
As Ambassador she told Dumke she has identified three priorities which Jamaica sees as vital and where the United States can assist with:
- The cost of energy. The region is looking now to access affordable energy
- Food security
- Climate change and resilience building. Here she added, “In many cases, our entire economy is devastated by one hurricane in the Caribbean. We don’t want the emphasis to be placed on income levels but rather put in place a vulnerability index for financing purposes.”
An entrepreneur, Marks founded the online bill-payment company, Paymaster, in 1997.
She also once served as the President of the American Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Tourism Product Development Company and Deputy Chair of the Urban Development Corporation.
It has been mooted that Prime Minister may do well to make a swap with Kamina Johnson Smith filling in Ambassador Mark’s vacated role.
Audrey Marks is expected to be made a Senator.
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