Holness Defends Johnson-Smith’s Candidacy

Amid brewing controversy among CARICOM members, Prime Minister Andrew Holness re-affirmed his support for Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith and declared that with very limited exceptions, she also has the support of CARICOM heads of government and state as well as foreign ministers across regions. 

Smith has been nominated for the post of secretary general of the commonwealth a move deemed a ‘monumental error’ by Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne. Prime Minister Holness says several countries including Jamaica, were approached about the possibility of nominating a candidate for the post of commonwealth secretary general, towards the latter part of the first term of the Incumbent Baroness Patricia Scotland.

He says the conclusion can now be drawn that Scotland’s first term has left room for challenge. The prime minister says Jamaica recently had to consider the state of affairs and future of the commonwealth in conjunction with strong encouragement to put forth a candidate, specifically Senator Kamina Johnson-Smith. He says he’s spoken with the chairman of CARICOM about the developments and CARICOM heads of government will meet on Wednesday to re visit the issue which he says has been on the agenda of several meetings since 2020.