Jamaica Labour Party Press Release - September 30, 2025:
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| The Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith. |
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith says it is disappointing but not surprising that the PNP has continued its trend of disingenuous approaches to foreign policy issues when it stated in a media release today, September 30, 2025 that the Government of Jamaica has been "silent" on issues affecting the Middle East, including Palestine.
Senator Johnson Smith says it is a matter of widely reported public record that Prime Minister Dr. The Most Honourable Andrew Holness told the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York that:
"Jamaica is deeply horrified by the devastating humanitarian consequences of the counteroffensive in Palestinian Territories. A just and peaceful resolution to the conflict is only possible through diplomacy and dialogue. We continue to support United Nation Security Council Resolution 242, and support the call for a ceasefire agreement that includes the release of all remaining hostages and definitively ending the protracted war and human suffering.".
Dr. Holness also indicated that Jamaica, once again condemns the heinous October 7th, 2023 attack on Israel.
Senator Johnson Smith says these elements of Jamaica's National Policy Statement at the UN - the same meeting in respect of which Scott Mottley's criticisms were levied - were consistent with previous statements Johnson Smith herself has made, as well as statements in which Jamaica has joined CARICOM at the levels of Heads, Foreign Ministers and Permanent Representatives to the UN.
She continued by saying that Opposition Shadow Spokesman, Donna Scott Mottley started on the wrong foot by issuing a statement which accused the Government of "failing to show solidarity" with Palestine and stated that "our silence sends the wrong signal".
Minister Johnson Smith says:
"To ignore all that has been said and done, including the actual recognition of the State of Palestine last year, a step never taken by any previous administration; and to decry our non-participation in a performative action- shows the image-focused and in substantive approach of the PNP to foreign policy. It is a matter of prominent public record that the Dr. Holness-led Government of Jamaica took the decision to recognize the State of Palestine following deliberations of Cabinet in April 2024. At that time, I stated unequivocally that "Jamaica continues to advocate for a two-state solution as the only viable option to resolve the longstanding conflict, guarantee the security of Israel and uphold the dignity and rights of Palestinians. By recognizing the State of Palestine, Jamaica strengthens its advocacy towards a peaceful solution." I also affirmed that the decision was aligned with Jamaica’s strong commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which seek to engender mutual respect and peaceful co-existence among states, as well as the recognition of the right of peoples to self-determination.”
Minister Johnson Smith concluded:
"Mrs. Scott Mottley and the PNP do themselves and these complex issues a disservice when they suggest the Government of Jamaica has failed to speak strongly on the issue. It is unfortunate that the PNP has continued their pre-General Election trend of trying to create their own narratives even when the facts clearly do not support their unequivocally false statements. Clearly they have not learnt one of the lessons sent to them by the people of Jamaica on on September 3, 2025, regarding their preference for truth, moderation and reason. "
Sound clips
Mi Kamina Johnson Smith restates what the PM said at the United Nations in relation to the Israeli vs Palestinian conflict.
The Minister speaks about the PNP ignoring the position of the government on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
The minister says the PNP continues the pre-election narrative even when there are no facts to support the narrative.
I recall the constant calls made by the PNP years ago for Bruce Golding to pay the nurses more than what the government was offering and due to the pressure from all quarters, he capitulated and gave the nurses what they wanted. This derailed the IMF programme that we were on as a country. Then the same PNP who were practically condemning the government for not paying the nurses better, used that incident and cuss the government. If the present government had taken the stance that the PNP is suggesting and then reaped some serious consequences from vengeful President Trump, the PNP would be the first to speak out against the government walking out and placing the country in an uncomfortable situation.
ReplyDeleteTrump did not hesitate to expel students from the United States when they protested against the war in Gaza. Many could not complete their studies, though there should be freedom of speech. He is a vengeful man indeed, and we have to tread carefully.
DeleteTo me, the continued israelae genocide of the Palestinian people is an indictment on the UN and the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteIsrael should be made to feel like the pariah it is! Netanyahu should not feel comfortable enough to think that any other country, other than america, would be interested in anything he had to say, I believe, Jamaica should have ‘walked out’ as well!!
The genocide in the Sudan needs the world’s attention and action as well!
FEAR! POWER! GREED! CONTROL! SAVAGERY! RACISM! evidently is the order of the day
Holness is netanyahu's boy, and I am being charitable in my characterization here. A Black woman who sees herself as white, and who proudly extols her connection to whiteness as far as I am concerned, had no love or loyalty to Black people. She should not be in charge of any Black country's foreign policy. Mia Motley describes what the zionists (avowed white supremacists by their own,doocumented admissions) are doing to the People of Palestine, primarily women and children, as genocide. What do any African people have in common with zionists to the point where their so-called leaders feel they must tiptoe around and not speak truth to the power of white supremacists? How can a Black man with any self-respect be OK with being publicly used as a tool of zionism, by a mass murderer who denigrated Barrack Obama? Genocide is genocide. And do not tell me garbage about being chosen. Who are you to be chosen to murder, plunder and pillage other people's homes? By wbat right do you attack hospitals, murder Reporters and burn churches? Holness and his self-hating gang of white supremacy appeasers and genocide applauders should be ashamed. Marcus hangs his head. Mandela hides himself in his room, ashamed to even be associated with these traitors, enemies of human rights, betrayers of the global African struggles. Why doesn't Kamina go to Europe and represent her cousins? Or get a job as secretary of state in Amerikkka, where she can move white supremacy's agenda as she is trying to do here? No vacancy for the Black-white woman? May I suggest you apply Kamina? Or better yet,call bibi, that racist, genocidal mass murderer would love to have you in his cabinet! After all you are just like him. And you are one of them. Good luck with that.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI read the comments, and there is a lot of hate coming through. Remember this: 'Hate in our hearts cannot bring about peace.' The wars will continue so long as there is no love in our hearts. At the rate we are going, only the animals and the plants will be left to live in peace.
ReplyDeleteI wish that the people who are expressing such strong views on this platform about Gaza had a similar passion for the people in Haiti. In fact, when the government sent troops to Haiti, there were Jamaicans who were saying that we have enough crime in Jamaica to tend to and that we shouldn't be involved with the situation there. We need to know what battles we should make our own.
DeleteWell said all of the above presentations.
ReplyDeleteAll I will say is that walk out alone will not have an impact on Netanyahu Genocidal acts business as usual.
USA has to end their military support for Israel to enforce a 2 state solution.
The other approach is for Russia, China, India and Supportive Middle Eastern Countries back and enforce the 2 state solution.
Jews got a piece of Palestinian land to settle then.they began a kind of expansionist kill and capture the neighbour's land.
This has been allowed to continue until it has become a way of life a norm to kill Palestinians.
Now it has morphed into a Genocidal policy of Israel.
A simple walk out is more like abandoning b the Palestinians to a GAZA CEMETERY.
a walk out is like turning your backs on the Palestinians to die their women and children being murdered so no reproduction or human replacement Argument done Genocide achieved.
No walk out Netanyahu has to be forcefully confronted backed by military might.
Diplomacy and symbolic walk outs will not work.