Maldives to support candidacy of Jamaica’s Kamina Johnson-Smith for Commonwealth SG

The government of Maldives expresses support for Jamaica’s Kamina Johnson-Smith’s candidacy for the post of Commonwealth Secretary-General.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih made the announcement on Wednesday, confirming that Maldives roots for the candidate from Jamaica, for the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations in the upcoming elections at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, to be held in June 2022.

The president made the confirmation with Johnson-Smith during a phone call with the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Michael Holness on Wednesday.

Speaking to the Jamaican Prime Minister regarding Johnson-Smith’s candidacy, the Maldivian president stated that she is the “most qualified” candidate due to her “extensive” experience as well as background.

With this, the president affirmed the Jamaican PM on the government’s support for Johnson-Smith, “without hesitation”.

He also expressed confidence that Maldives and other Small Island Developing States will be well represented at the Commonwealth under Johnson-Smith’s tenure.

The Maldivian President and Jamaican PM also shed light on the close bilateral relationship between the two nations.

The call also saw President Solih extending an open invitation to PM Holness to undertake a visit to the Maldives at a time mutually convenient for both leaders.

Having previously served as the Chair of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM), President of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), and the CARICOM Council on Trade and Development, Johnson-Smith is Jamaica’s first female Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

She currently serves as the Coordinator of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) Group at the World Trade Organization in Geneva.