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News
Baugh: New US ambassador will be extremely valuable to Jamaica
Thursday, July 15, 2010
MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dr Kenneth Baugh has avoided commenting in detail on United States President Barack Obama's plan to nominate Pamela Bridgewater to fill the post of US ambassador to Jamaica, except to say that she "will be extremely valuable to Jamaica".
The news of Bridgewater's nomination came on Friday, approximately two weeks after Jamaica extradited alleged drug and gun-runner Christopher 'Dudus' Coke to the United States, and 18 months after former US ambassador to Jamaica Brenda LaGrange Johnson returned to Washington.
Bridgewater — a career diplomat, who previously served in Jamaica as deputy chief of mission — also served as US ambassador to Ghana and Benin with other overseas postings, including Belgium, South Africa and the Bahamas.
But speaking in Parliament Tuesday, Baugh, who is also Jamaica's deputy prime minister, said he was not in a position to discuss the "details" of the pending nomination.
"...My counterpart (Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Anthony Hylton) was on radio discussing it but we respect the need for the State Department to make their announcement before we can enter discussions on details about the person and her service," Baugh told Parliament Tuesday.
"But we anticipate that she is somebody who will be extremely valuable to Jamaica," added Baugh, who is also deputy prime minister.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also sought to assure that Jamaica's relations with the US -- that had come under considerable strain over its delay in granting the extradition request, which was made in August 2010 --remained strong.
"The assumption of duties by our new ambassador to the USA (Audrey Marks) in May of this year and the announcement of the designation of a candidate for ambassador to Jamaica underscore this position," Baugh said.
"In light of the doubts which have been raised in certain quarters, let me affirm that our relations with the United States are based on a firm foundation and remain strong.
Our recent disagreement over matters relating to the extradition request involved just one aspect of what is a wide-ranging relationship that is based on shared values and mutual respect," the foreign affairs minister said.
"I can assure this house that Jamaica and the United States are committed to deepening our bilateral relationship and we are intensifying our co-operation with each other," he added.
 
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7/15/2010
Ironic, isn't it? As soon as Coke is extradited to the US the Americans name an ambassador to Jamaica. As for the utterances of Mr. Baugh, will someone tell this joker to measure his words more carefully. As one-time US Sec'y of State, Henry Kissinger once remarked, '... the US does not have friends, just interests.'
7/15/2010
Poppyshow
7/15/2010
".....a wide-ranging relationship based on shared values and..." I guess Baugh was talking tongue in cheek!
In USA would golding still be leader? would the senate still have a job?would most of them not be in jail?
This govt. have zero values!
Be careful the US dont charge you lot for character assassination!
7/15/2010
With the Chinese in the region buying here and buying there and setting up their nationals to run these companies they have established or taken over, I can see the Americans twittering in the breeze wondering what is going on. America is going to have assert herself all over again and tell us to tell the Chinese to back off. Ambassador Bridgewater will have her work cut out for her, tehy have been away too long.
7/15/2010
We are hopeful but I am sure that there is some apprehension in the minds of the U S authorities when it comes to the Govt of Ja . I also want to advice Dr Baugh not mistake diplomacy for friendship.As another writer opined , they ,the americans , invented diplomacy , they know how to use it quite effectively.
7/15/2010
"I can assure this house that Jamaica and the United States are committed to deepening our bilateral relationship and we are intensifying our co-operation with each other," he added.
With all due respect Mr. Baugh you CANNOT speak for others.
Having worked with the Americans for years and travelling extensively across the US, I can truly tell you Sir, that they invented diplomacy.
My mother would say they are hypocrites.
Dr. Baugh, like Mr. Vaz should allow people to speak their own truths.
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