Heads of Jamaica’s Diplomatic and Consular Missions will arrive in Kingston this week to engage in a week-long consultative process with the leadership of the Foreign Ministry.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meetings of this nature are part of the established process of ensuring those charged with implementing the Ministry’s strategic objectives overseas remain aligned with developments at home.

The Ministry said the consultations are particularly important during this period of geopolitical uncertainty, and will also facilitate briefings from heads of mission on major developments across the globe.

Portfolio Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, says the meeting of heads is designed to ensure diplomatic and consular missions are pulling in the same direction.

She says it will also advance Jamaica’s ambitions, while ensuring the country is as prepared as possible to meet developments in an unpredictable world.

Johnson Smith says this model of coordinated action among all 20 missions has been visible in times of crisis.

She notes that during the passage of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica’s embassies and High Commissions coordinated assistance from more than 30 countries.

She explains that this resulted in the deployment of medical teams, field hospitals, search-and-rescue units, engineering crews, electricity line workers, maritime patrol vessels and the donation of over 1,200 tonnes of fertiliser for farmers.