The Republic of Sierra Leone will open its first consulate in Jamaica on Tuesday with prominent academic, trade policy specialist and advocate, Professor Rosalea Hamilton serving as honorary consul.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt will deliver the main address while Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Kamina Johnson Smith and Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, Sidique Wai, will also address the ceremony.
A delegation from the African country will be in Jamaica for the opening of the consulate, which will kick off a week of celebratory activities to include an Africa-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum and a cultural forum dubbed, ‘Jamaica-Sierra Leone Family Reunion: Flesh of my flesh, Blood of my Blood.’
Professor Hamilton said the forum will highlight the opportunities for trade and investment with Sierra Leone, West Africa, and Africa.
“These are tangible relationships that will begin to take place and again, it is directly linked to this move to deepen the relationship around trade, investments and other kinds of relationship,” she said, noting there are also plans to continue online engagements to strengthen understanding of the historical, cultural, food and fashion links between the countries.
“Those are real tangible relationships that we have, and we want to continue that online engagement that we started last year with Sierra Leone and Jamaica link up,” she said, noting that these might be once or up to three times a year.
Professor Hamilton said the consulate also intends to organize a mission to Sierra Leone by 2024, which will include Jamaican businesses, professionals or persons who want to forge relationships with their African counterparts.
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