Eight new foreign diplomats appointed
Published:Sunday | March 17, 2024 | 9:16 AM
Eight new foreign representatives have been appointed to serve as ambassadors and high commissioners to Jamaica.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, made the announcement last week during a reception at the ministry in downtown Kingston. It formed part of activities marking Diplomatic Days 2024, from March 12 to 14.
They are Raslan Abu Rukun from Israel, Suriname's Wendy Paulus-Aminta, Dr Genet Teshome Jirru from Ethiopia and Peru's Mario López Chavarri.
The other representatives are Linda Te Puni from New Zealand, Masood Khan from Pakistan, South Korea's Huh Tae-wan and Kim Højlund Christensen from Denmark.
Most of them are based in other countries in the region.
Senator Johnson Smith said the representatives, who presented their credentials to the Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, and Prime Minister Andrew Holness, are now fully accredited.
“I could not be more delighted that they are here in Jamaica," she said at an event on March 12.
She noted that the period designated annually for special activities incorporating members of the diplomatic corps is geared towards engaging them “in ways that highlight the invaluable partnership that exists between Jamaica and the bilateral partners.”
“This type of engagement allows Jamaica to not only share our priorities on a range of political, socio-economic, cultural, environmental and commercial priorities, but to also familiarise Heads of Missions [with] the range of offerings of our beautiful country,” she added.
Senator Johnson Smith also announced that the Foreign Ministry accounted for over J$4.5 billion in support of national development efforts through cooperation activities with their bilateral partners.
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