CARICOM, CSME feature in 2017 priorities – Jamaica Foreign Minister

Press Conference Statement by Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade

 

[su_pullquote align=”right”]”I am also particularly pleased therefore to use this opportunity to formally launch the first in a series of 3 flyers on the CSME. I hold in my hand the flyer on Free Movement which provides Jamaicans with Travel Tips on travelling in CARICOM, to help people understand what they should do to prepare to travel, who to turn to if they have a problem, and also things they should be aware of re working and overstaying.” – Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith[/su_pullquote]Thank you Madame PS. Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen and thank you for joining us today.

Today’s press conference seeks to accomplish a few things:

– To update you the media and the wider Jamaica public about the activities of the Ministry. Much of what we do is actually confidential. We will however share as much of the information as possible, and today is part of our efforts in this regard;

– Increase the understanding of the work done by this Ministry;

– To note just some of our achievements in what has been an active and productive 10 month period; and

– To kick off the new year by identifying some of our more immediate priorities in the upcoming year.

The most fundamental role of the MFAFT is to use international relationships – at bilateral, regional and multi-lateral levels – to further Jamaica’s national development goals. It is also however about contributing to global governance, peace and being good neighbours.

During, these past 10 months we have done just that, seeking to build on existing relationships and to create new ones, with a view to supporting Jamaica’s growth agenda. We are quite clear that the practice of diplomacy should not exist in a vacuum. It must contribute to the development of our country and improving the lives of our people.

ACHIEVEMENTS

It is in this context therefore, that we count among our proud achievements:

1. The selection of Jamaica as a Pathfinder country in the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children. The partnership provides opportunities for funding and other support for Jamaica’s efforts to eradicate violence against children. This is critical as the Prime Minister has stated the government’s commitment to protecting our children. This will help to facilitate how Jamaica practically achieves this.

2. Also among our achievements we count the signature of a new Framework Cooperation Agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco under which Jamaica will benefit from up to 100 scholarships annually together with support in agricultural technology among other areas. This was one of the key wins arising from a working visit to Morocco to participate in the COP22.

3. We are pleased to have facilitated the successful coordination of the intergovernmental process that led to Cabinet’s approval of the establishment of UN House for housing UN resident agencies adjacent to the Jamaica Conference Center. It is a matter which has long languished but is now underway. You will have noted that UNEP Regional office has already taken up residence there. UN House will not only encourage more coordinated engagement by Jamaica with the UN System, but will increase activity downtown and contribute to the re-development process. This will continue the administration’s commitment to re-develop downtown Kingston.

4. Last year I led a delegation to Mexico for meetings of the Bi-National Commission where we signed off on new agreements and a Plan of Action for cooperation for this year which includes training in preservation of cultural heritage, training of craft vendors to increase their skills and competitiveness so we can have inclusive growth in the tourism sector; support on security information systems among other matters. This co-incided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Mexico.

5. Additionally we established a new Bi-National Commission with Panama as part of our commitment to deepen relationships with neighbours in the region. In this regard, we will be cooperating in areas such as trade, logistics and youth development exchanges. I signed the Agreement on a visit to Panama with the Prime Minister on the opening of the expanded Panama Canal, and we expect to start the work by convening the first meeting of that Commission within the next 6 months.

6. Jamaica assumed the Chairmanship of CARIFORUM for one year, on 1st July 2016. As Chair, I have led the fifteen (15) Member Group at intra-CARIFORUM meetings, within the ACP and in Joint ACP / EU meetings. Some of the regional issues that I have championed at these meetings include the threat posed to developing countries in the Caribbean by de-risking and the withdrawal of correspondent banking services, Brexit and its implications for trade between CARIFORUM countries and the UK; as well as the need to optimize the Economic Partnership Agreement between CARIFORUM and the EU.

7. As we will recall, last year March our relationship with Trinidad and Tobago hit another low with comparatively high levels of Jamaicans not being landed, complaints of mistreatment by Immigration officials and undignified treatment of persons who were not being landed. We are happy to report that since our intervention and continued action on this matter, we have experienced a 64% reduction in Jamaicans refused entry between March and December 2016, as well as reduced complaints of mistreatment. We have also received feedback from travelers and through enquiries by our High Commission in Port of Spain that there is a generally improved experience at immigration. We do not expect perfection – but work has definitely been done for which we are pleased. The Trinidadian Government has kept its commitment to retrofit an area in the airport to comfortably accommodate persons including Jamaicans who are not landed, while they await return to their country of origin; they have also conducted at least two significant rounds of training of immigration officials at the Piarco airport. We have been working closely with the Govt. of Trinidad on improving the ability of our business persons to export to Trinidad, by re-establishing a trade desk within the Jamaican High Commission, seeking to establish a model to be replicated in both POS and Kgn to identify trade issues early for swift resolution, and also working on the systemic issue of implementation of the CSME. Prime Minister Holness has shared several accounts of business persons who have experienced an improvement in attitude as they seek to do business in Trinidad – again, resulting from the new and positive space created between our countries and the assiduous work of this Ministry which continues as we work in conjunction with the private sectors here and in Trinidad through our mission there, and on the various elements of the Action Plan developed in the bi-lateral meeting held during Prime Minister Rowley’s state visit to Jamaica.

8. We are committed to doing our part to continue the downward trend in returnees, and to this end, the Ministry has embarked on a public education campaign, which seeks to sensitize the Jamaican public on travel within CARICOM countries part of the CSME. We have hosted and will continue to host sessions will also cover the rules governing free movement within the CSME, including the rights and obligations of CARICOM nationals.

I am also particularly pleased therefore to use this opportunity to formally launch the first in a series of 3 flyers on the CSME. I hold in my hand the flyer on Free Movement which provides Jamaicans with Travel Tips on travelling in CARICOM, to help people understand what they should do to prepare to travel, who to turn to if they have a problem, and also things they should be aware of re working and overstaying.

This the next one will be on working – how to get your skills certificate, the areas covered, etc and the third being how to establish companies in other CSME countries. We will also continue the background work within CARICOM and CARIFORUM so that Jamaica’s rights and opportunities are protected in the regional project.

The flyer is available at PICA, Caribbean Airlines, several travel agencies have electronically accessible copies, it is on the Ministry’s Facebook page, and will be on our website when its re-design is complete. We are happy to receive your feedback on the flier through info@mfaft.gov.jm

These are only some of our achievements over the past 10 months. It would take a much longer exercise than this press conference would allow to enumerate all that this Ministry has accomplished. You will note I have not even mentioned matters recently in the press such as the signing of Letters of Exchange for the Children’s Hospital in Western Jamaica, and progress made regarding the new MFAFT Headquarters being built by the government of China; we have not spoken about the Air Services Agreement signed with Canada, and the less publicized signature with Kuwait. This Ministry does so much and this is why we are committed to sharing more about its work.

Our achievements have been facilitated by engagements that have taken place here in Jamaica and overseas. Part of why I describe this year as active, is that I have visited 13 countries over the period under review and between those visits and activities here in Jamaica, I have had close to 200 meetings with Heads of Government, Ministers, Ambassadors, High Level Officials and Heads of International Organizations. Where I travel, we have made every effort to make trips as multi dimensional as possible, so whatever the main purpose of the visit has been, we have sought to maximize the opportunities by including additional meetings and engagements whether with government, private sector or diaspora communities –or all 3 where time has permitted.

In this context it would be remiss of me to not mention having attended two regional diaspora conferences in the US, having engaged with Diaspora Heads and community members during official vists to Washington DC, Toronto, New York, London, Tokyo and Belgium,; and I added to Diaspora engagements in Orlando, New York, London and Toronto, dedicated Youth meetings – where no one with more gray hair than me was allowed to participate. These meetings provided invaluable feedback for the team in reviewing our diaspora engagement framework, and these consultations will be incorporated in our policy work going forward.

IMMEDIATE PRIORITES FOR 2017

Dialogue with partner countries on issues of high national priority, examples of which I just mentioned, will become increasingly important as the Ministry plays its part in the economic growth agenda. In that context, I am pleased to move into our immediate priorities for 2017 by announcing that next month we will be engaging our bilateral partners at the annual Diplomatic Week activities under the theme: “Growth through Partnerships”.

1. Diplomatic Week, will be held this year from Sunday, 5th February through to Friday, 10th February.

We will bring together resident and non-resident High Commissioners and Ambassadors accredited to Jamaica for exposure to Jamaica’s political, economic and social developments, as well as our culture. We will commence the week with a Church Service, which, for the first time, will be open to the public and we invite you the members of the media to join us. This will be at the UWI Chapel, on Sunday February 5th at 12 noon.

There are other activities which will provide our Diplomatic Corps with an opportunity to engage with Government and the private sector, paving the way for establishment of new relationships where administrations have changed, the strengthening of existing of existing relationships and the identification of new and emerging opportunities.

BILATERAL PRIORITIES

United States

The United States remains Jamaica largest trading partner and trade relations will continue to be pursued under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI). In collaboration with our CARICOM partners we will continue to monitor developments closely as the new President and his Cabinet take office.

You would also have heard about the recent signing into law, by President Obama, of the US Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act. That law signals an opportunity for strengthening our relations with the United States. We note that it had broad bipartisan support and focuses on a multi-year strategy to increase engagement with the Caribbean on issues relating to energy and security, among other matters. Again, we will be monitoring closely and working through our Mission in Washington to advocate for its meaningful implementation.

I am happy to advise that the Report will be submitted to myself and Prime Minister Holness in mid-February. Following discussion by Cabinet, the report will then be made public. As you know, the report attracted keen interest across the region and therefore required broad consultations. It was therefore in order to facilitate the appropriate analysis that the life of the Commission was extended. The Chairman, former Prime Minister Bruce Golding will also of course make his own announcements as Chairman in that respect, in due course.

Until the end of June 2017 I will continue to Chair the 15-member group of ACP CARIFORUM states and will also remain the High Representative for the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement. The EPA provides our market access to the EU member states on preferential terms and is therefore a high priority for us.

I have already spoken about my initial engagements

• As the Ministry continues to focus on the engagement of the Jamaican Diaspora, a major priority will be the Ministry’s participation in the Economic Growth Council (EGC) Diaspora Engagement Task Force. The Task Force was established on 20th December 2016 to refine and drive the implementation of the recommendations presented by the EGC for harnessing the power of the Diaspora.

• The Ministry commenced development of its new National Consular Policy last year, and it is intended to complete it this year. It’s main aim will be to support the improvement and standardizing of service delivery to members of our Jamaican community overseas through our overseas missions.

• The global network of Honorary Consuls will be expanded and re-positioned to better perform the dual roles of promoting trade with, and investment in, Jamaica, and providing consular services for Jamaicans living in the locations they represent.

• We are reviewing the timing of establishment of the Joint Select Committee on Diaspora Affairs to consider matters related to political representation and the Diaspora policy to ensure we have the best information present given adjustments being considered in light of our desire to ensure it is fit for purpose, results driven, and aligned with the EGC’s call to action.

• Similarly, we consider it essential that the deliberations of the biennial Diaspora Conference yield outcomes that give impetus to the economic growth agenda. Diaspora partnership will be an important element of that agenda. I will therefore be making an announcement on the Conference in short order.

Foreign Trade Policy

Work started on a “new” Foreign Trade Policy in 2011. It was approved by the former administration in January 2015, and we have undertaken a review in light of changing global dynamics in this short year. The Policy as updated is before the Cabinet for review. Its adoption will be another linchpin of the government’s growth agenda as being a small island state, we are unlikely to be able to grow significantly without robust trade.

Brexit

We will continue to collaborate with CARIFORUM partners in consultations with the UK to retain our preferential market access in that country. In that regard, we have requested a meeting with the UK Secretaries of State with responsibility for International Trade and International Development Cooperation respectively. I will also attend the inaugural meeting of Commonwealth Trade Ministers 9th and 10th March, by which time we are also hoping to have a clearer idea of the UK’s strategy for its exist from the EU. At the same time, we will be seeking to strengthen our relations with EU countries. In fact, during Diplomatic Week we will be holding our third EU-Jamaica Political Dialogue under the provisions of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement.

Post Cotonou Arrangements

The Cotonou Partnership Agreement which sets out the framework for relations between the ACP Group of States and European Union member states, will expire in 2020. This is the agreement under which we receive national and regional developmental support from the EU to the tune of millions of Euro. We are therefore working, together with the Caribbean region and the rest of the ACP Group of States, to actively prepare for the negotiation of a successor agreement to Cotonou.

We have accomplished much. There has been much progress; and there remains much to be done every day. I work with an excellent team here at the Ministry. I would have not have achieved the successes enumerated today without their hard work and support, so I want to publicly thank all members of staff of the Ministry whether serving here or overseas. You would have heard our PS, and I would just like to ask the team members present – Under Secretaries and Directors, Desk Officers, to stand and be recognized for the work which they have done and continue today.

I am excited about the year ahead and the opportunities it presents to support Jamaica’s growth Agenda and thereby improve the lives of all Jamaicans.