For the past several months rumors have been circulating regarding changes in postings of Jamaican diplomats. One rumor suggested Jamaican Ambassador to the US, Audrey Marks would be recalled to Jamaica to replace the incumbent Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Another rumor was that Jamaican Consul General to the Southern United States, Oliver Mair was to be recalled this year when his current term ends. But a viral media report out of Jamaica earlier this week throws a different light as to the possible reason behind these rumors.
Diplomatic immunity request sparks controversy: A look at the underlying issue
According to the report, earlier this year the US government wrote to the Jamaican government seeking its approval for the married same-sex partner of a US diplomat, who is to be posted in Jamacia, to be given diplomatic immunity and all the privileges of a diplomat.
It seemed the Jamaican government procrastinated in its response, so the US government sent another diplomatic note demanding a response. The Jamaican government then responded by rejecting the request, ostensibly because same-sex marriage is considered illegal in accordance with Jamaica’s laws and policy.
To approve the US request to grant the diplomat’s same-sex partner diplomatic immunity would have been tantamount to the Jamaican government going against the nation’s stance on same-sex marriage.
According to the reports, the US government responded by rejecting a request from the Jamaican government to extend diplomatic privileges that approves the stay in America of three Jamaican diplomats, including Marks, the Jamaican Ambassador to the US, and Mair, Jamaican Consular General to the Southern US, stationed in Miami.
Public reaction to the diplomatic dilemma: Views from Jamaica and the diaspora
This report has created a strong reaction among Jamaicans at home and in the diaspora. Many people are of the opinion that the US government is acting in a bullying fashion, without any respect for the laws of Jamaica, a sovereign nation.
True, Jamaica is a sovereign nation with its own laws, which should be respected in the international community, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States of America. The US and Jamaica have been very close diplomatic partners ever since Jamaica gained independence in 1962.
Surely, the US government must be aware of Jamaica’s buggery laws, and the Jamaican government’s policy towards same-sex marriage. With the US government knowing this policy, why did it make a diplomatic push for posting a same-sex couple in Jamaica? Didn’t they expect a pushback from the Jamaican government, or did they think the Jamaican government would give in to the diplomatic power yielded by the US?
As some Jamaicans are asking in several social media posts, would the US have posted a diplomat with a same-sex partner in Saudi Arabia or another Arab country where same-sex marriages are fundamentally illegal?
It is the strong opinion that by posting this diplomat to Jamaica and taking it for granted the Jamaican government would approve the request for giving his same-sex partner diplomatic immunity is a total disrespect of the Jamaican government, Jamaican people, and Jamaican laws.
There’s a legal opinion that since the marriage of the US diplomat took place in the US, full faith and credit should be given to that marriage. Legally, it is argued since the marriage was legal in the US it should therefore be accepted internationally. But it’s still debatable if, although the marriage was legally accepted in the US, it should be accepted in Jamaica where same-sex marriage is considered illegal.
No doubt, this is a major diplomatic mess, and a mess, now that it’s exposed, places tremendous pressure on the Jamaican government. Some people believe this is deja vue for the Jamaican government as it is in some way reminiscent of the circumstances surrounding the Christopher “Dudus” Coke extradition affair back in 2010, which eventually led to the premature resignation of then Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
In the Coke extradition situation, the then government dithered and dithered in taking a firm decision to extradite Coke. Many people believe if the government had acted more quickly and firmly, much of the ensuing chaos would have been avoided.
In the current diplomatic crisis, some people also believe the Jamaican government shouldn’t have procrastinated in denying the US request to grant diplomatic immunity to the same-sex partner of the diplomat. What was the reason for the Jamaican government’s procrastination?
It wouldn’t be surprising if the government was weighing its diplomatic options with the US carefully. Jamaica hasn’t got the financial nor military assets to act like a political David against the mighty US Goliath. That’s a stark, blatant fact. But, nonetheless, Jamaica cannot afford to compromise its laws and policies, to hypocritically give into the USA whenever the USA comes making demands.
It is unclear how this diplomatic mess will be resolved. It will take the best diplomatic maneuvering of the Jamaican government to resolve this matter, retain the respect of the Us government, and have a positive diplomatic relationship with the US.
More on the allegations of a ‘diplomatic row’ between Jamaica and US
- Update: Jamaican government refutes claims of ‘diplomatic row’ with US
- Diplomatic tensions emerge as Jamaica denies accreditation to American diplomat’s same sex spouse
