JAMAICA-Jamaica temporarily closes embassy in Dominican Republic.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaican government says it will, from August 1, this year, temporarily close its embassy in the Dominican Republic. Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Kamina Johnson Smith, said that the closure is not a reflection of diplomatic, political, or trade relations with the Spanish-speaking country, but is due to the embassy no longer having access to visa fees, from which it was historically funded.

“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 told reporters.

She said the temporary closure will allow the Ministry to revisit matters of financing, the embassy’s location and broader administrative arrangements.

“We are engaged with the government of the Dominican Republic on that. This was a matter of pure administrative prudence, and we will, of course, continue to support Jamaican’s consular needs through our honorary consul in Puerto Plata.”

Meanwhile, Johnson Smith said that she recently welcomed Everlyne Mwenda Karisa, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to Jamaica, following the establishment of Kenya’s High Commission here.

“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.”

Johnson Smith also noted that the Ministry welcomed a new addition to its diplomatic corps after Kofi Attor, the non-resident High Commissioner for the Republic of Ghana, presented his Copy Letters of Credence to the Minister on July 29 and later to the Governor-General, thereby allowing his formal accreditation.

Attor’s accreditation comes ahead of next week’s official visit by the President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama.