Don't surrender rights to foreigners - cleric

A member of the clergy has issued a warning to the country to protect its own interests when negotiating with foreigners.

Making reference to the recent furore over Jamaica's place in the regional trading bloc, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Reverend Everald Edwards said efforts must be made to ensure all Jamaicans are being justly served by the agreements the country makes.

"While we here in Jamaica debate the value of being a member of CARICOM, I want to challenge us to remember that we have to be vigilant in protecting our rights and exercising our responsibilities to ensure that we have a playing field that is made level," Edwards said Sunday during his address at the service observing the start of the 2014 Diplomatic Week at the Church of the Open Bible, on Washington Boulevard in St Andrew.

Addressing an audience, including members of the diplomatic corps, Edwards said Jamaica must begin to recognise that as a sovereign state, no other country is required to look after our welfare.

"No one is obligated to look out for us. We owe it to ourselves to look out for ourselves," Edwards opined, adding that this would give the country greater flexibility to take independent and equitable positions.

Activities during Diplomatic Week will include a series of events and a presentation by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller in Parliament today, which will outline the Government's plans for the year.