Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs Minister emphasizes benefits of formal migration

The importance of establishing formal migration pathways has been underscored by Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith. 

She emphasized that legal avenues for safe and orderly migration can mitigate irregular migration, combat human trafficking, and smuggling, while also harnessing the potential of migrants as valuable contributors to societies and economies.

Commitment to the Los Angeles declaration

During a recent meeting in Guatemala with foreign affairs ministers and senior government officials from approximately 20 countries, Johnson Smith reaffirmed Jamaica's dedication to advancing the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection.

Adopted in June 2022 during the ninth Summit of the Americas, the Declaration builds on internationally accepted principles and instruments, including the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

Regional endorsement and participation

Jamaica is one of five Caribbean territories endorsing the Declaration, alongside Barbados, Belize, Guyana, and Haiti. 

In total, 22 other countries have also committed to the principles outlined in the document.

Significance of the Jamaican diaspora

Johnson Smith also highlighted the critical role of the Jamaican diaspora in the island’s development. 

The diaspora has been pivotal to Jamaica’s socio-economic growth through their significant contributions to sectors such as health and education, investments, skills transfers, and remittances. 

These remittances, in particular, constitute a substantial percentage of the country’s GDP, underscoring the diaspora’s ongoing importance to Jamaica’s economy.