KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaicans in New York will be able to contribute to discussions targeted at strengthening bilateral relations between Jamaica and the United States, during a public forum that is the fourth in a five-part dialogue being held with Jamaicans locally and overseas, under the project — Dialogues Between Democracies: The Future of US/Jamaica Bilateral Relations.

The public forum, led by the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI) in collaboration with the United States Embassy in Jamaica, is scheduled for 6:00 pm Thursday, March 24, at the New York Hilton Midtown, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York.

The Manhattan forum will focus on the theme: Jamaica/ US Relations: Issues and Perspectives.

Executive Director of CaPRI, Dr Damien King, says the forum will explore practical measures to strengthen civil society and enhance its impact as an agent for improving governance in Jamaica. The discussions are expected to address policymaking, accountability, transparency, access to information, and the development of informed public opinion.

“What we hope to achieve from these discussions are feasible ways to advance security cooperation in areas, such as defence and maritime security; as well as, identify ways in which we can strengthen Jamaica’s social institutions,” Dr King indicated.

He noted that security and law enforcement were fundamental to economic growth. Further, he maintained that strengthening Jamaican institutions by limiting corruption, enhancing transparency and respect for the rule of law will improve trust in the political process, in addition to opening doors to greater domestic and international trade.

Panellists in the New York forum will include Ralph Thomas, Jamaican ambassador to the USA; Earl Jarrett, general manager, Jamaica National Building Society; and Ambassador Curtis Ward, former Jamaican ambassador to the United Nations.

The discussion will be moderated by Joshua Polacheck, counsellor, Public Affairs at the United States Embassy in Kingston.

The New York forum follows similar panel discussions about Security and Heath, which were held in Kingston, Jamaica, in January.

Those discussions highlighted key points, including the continued strong security cooperation between Jamaica and the USA through training and capacity building; and, facilitated perspectives on issues, such as what could be deemed as the security force’s reliance on extraditions to the USA, which some participants surmised could consequently weaken local law enforcement institutions.  

“In the final analysis, we hope to find the most effective ways for both Jamaica and the United States — strong democracies in partnership — to cooperate in pursuit of their mutual interests”, Dr King maintained.  “We believe these fora will provide a platform which will facilitate the voicing of different opinions on the current partnership between our countries, and in so doing to identify ways in which the partnership may be strengthened.”