Holness departs for United Nations General Assembly

Prime Minister Andrew Holness was scheduled to depart the island last night for the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, United States. Today, the prime minister is to attend a high-level plenary meeting on global peace in honour of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, known as the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit. The plenary will adopt a political declaration negotiated by member States.

Tomorrow and Wednesday, the prime minister will engage in a series of bilateral discussions with other leaders.

Thursday will see Holness bringing opening remarks at a CARICOM high-level breakfast event that will see the launch of Caribbean Moves.

Holness will also participate in the Third High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). This will be a major presentation as Jamaica and other nations across the world will devise strategies to combat NCDs.

The prime minister will wrap up his working visit on Friday with a series of meetings with senior representatives of the private and banking sectors.

Holness is supported by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith; Senator Matthew Samuda; and Robert Nesta Morgan, director of communications in the Office of the Prime Minister.

He will return to the island on Friday.

During his absence, Dr Horace Chang, minister of national security, will be in charge of the Government.