Sheila Sealy Monteith appointed new Jamaican Ambassador to Belgium

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade yesterday confirmed the appointment of Sheila Sealy Monteith as Jamaica's Ambassador to Belgium and the permanent representative to the European Union and UNESCO. She will also serve as the non-resident ambassador to other European countries.

She is currently the under-secretary for multilateral affairs in the ministry and will assume duties in Brussels in December.

Ambassador Sealy Monteith is a career diplomat of 31 years, who served previously as ambassador to Mexico with concurrent accreditation to Central America and High Commissioner to Belize from 2005 to 2010. Thereafter, she was appointed High Commissioner to Canada from 2010 to 2014.

Her posting comes at a time when Jamaica's relations with the European Union and its member countries will take on renewed significance as a result of anticipated developments associated with the post-Cotonou arrangements and Brexit, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith.

Strengthening of productive relations

"These and other factors suggest a strengthening of the already productive relations maintained with our European partners, as well as with the group of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries," Johnson Smith noted.

Johnson Smith said that she is certain that Ambassador Sealy Montieth's appointment will be fruitful in her relations with the various host countries.

"Ambassador Sealy Monteith is an eminently qualified professional who have given service to the country at the highest levels and in whose hands, I have no doubt, the relations with these important partners will be expanded and redound to mutual benefit," Johnson Smith said.

paul.clarke@gleanerjm.com