Foreign minister not expecting any change to US-Ja relations after midterms

Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith is not expecting any changes to bilateral relations with the United States given the outcome of yesterday's mid-term elections.

“Jamaica’s relationship with the US has always been strong across administrations and it continues so to be,” said Johnson Smith, who extended congratulations on behalf of the Government to all those who were elected in the US midterms.

Johnson Smith, who was speaking at the foreign ministry’s quarterly press briefing this morning, underscored that the government was looking forward to continue working with the Americans in bilateral and multilateral fora on the range of issues of mutual concern, from Diaspora matters to security and development cooperation.

In arguably the most consequential mid-term elections in recent memory, the Democratic Party won a comfortable majority in the American Congress. Although the exact seat count is yet to be finalised, the Democrats who need 218 seats to wrest back the speakership, are expected to end up with around 230 when the final tally is completed.

Their victory puts an end to Trump’s hopes of enacting further conservative legislation during the second half of his term. It also sets the stage for a whirlwind of Congressional investigations into Trump’s business dealings, his cabinet’s management of federal agencies and alleged collusion between his presidential-campaign staff and Russian operatives.

Meanwhile, the Republican party is expected to expand their current 51-49 majority in the Senate.

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