Jamaica temporarily closes embassy in Dominican Republic over funding challenges
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith
Key Points(5)
- Jamaica’s Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will temporarily close effective Aug.
- 1 as the government reviews its financing and administrative arrangements, Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith has announced.
- Johnson Smith said the closure is not linked to Jamaica’s diplomatic, political or trade relations with the Dominican Republic, but instead stems from changes in the embassy’s funding structure following reciprocal visa-free arrangements between the two countries.
- Speaking at a Post Cabinet press conference at Jamaica House on July 30, the minister explained that the embassy had historically relied on visa fee collections to support its operations.
- “We entered into reciprocal visa free waiver arrangements and with the inability to collect visa fees there is no longer a budget that is pre-programmed to support the embassy,” Johnson Smith said.
Jamaica’s Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will temporarily close effective Aug. 1 as the government reviews its financing and administrative arrangements, Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith has announced.
Johnson Smith said the closure is not linked to Jamaica’s diplomatic, political or trade relations with the Dominican Republic, but instead stems from changes in the embassy’s funding structure following reciprocal visa-free arrangements between the two countries.
Speaking at a Post Cabinet press conference at Jamaica House on July 30, the minister explained that the embassy had historically relied on visa fee collections to support its operations.
“We entered into reciprocal visa free waiver arrangements and with the inability to collect visa fees there is no longer a budget that is pre-programmed to support the embassy,” Johnson Smith said.
She said the temporary closure will give the ministry an opportunity to review the embassy’s financing model, location and wider administrative arrangements.
“We are engaged with the Government of the Dominican Republic on that. This was a matter of pure administrative prudency, and we will, of course, continue to support Jamaican’s consular needs through our honorary consul in Puerto Plata,” she said.
Johnson Smith stressed that the move does not signal any deterioration in relations between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, noting that both countries continue to maintain ties in areas including diplomacy and trade.
Meanwhile, the minister also highlighted developments in Jamaica’s diplomatic relations with Kenya and Ghana.
Johnson Smith said she recently welcomed Kenya’s first high commissioner to Jamaica, Everlyne Mwenda Karisa, following the establishment of Kenya’s High Commission in Kingston.
“We welcome the Republic of Kenya. This is a clear symbol of our deepening ties. This milestone marks a new era in the long-standing friendship between Jamaica and Kenya, and we anticipate further announcements in this regard as we strengthen our bilateral and people-to-people relations,” she said.
The ministry also received new diplomatic credentials from Ghana’s non-resident High Commissioner to Jamaica, Kofi Attor, who presented his copy letters of credence to Johnson Smith on July 29 before completing his formal accreditation with Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen.
Attor’s accreditation comes ahead of an official visit to Jamaica next week by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama.
