KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith says the results of a referendum on the United Kingdom’s (UK) membership in the European Union (WU) will have significant implications for Jamaica-UK relations and possibly for Jamaica-EU relations.

Britain yesterday voted to break out of the European Union, striking a thunderous blow against the bloc and spreading panic through world markets as the pound sterling collapsed to a 31-year low.

Voters decided 52 percent to 48 percent in favour of quitting the bloc with 374 out of 382 regional results declared. 

Below is Johnson Smith’s statement in full:

The Government and people of Jamaica extend greetings to the Government and people of the United Kingdom in the wake of yesterday’s historic staging of a referendum on the UK’s membership in the European Union (EU). We applaud the UK for the fact that the referendum (popularly known as Brexit) was conducted freely and fairly, with due regard for the strong democratic tradition, which has been the hallmark of the UK political process.

The margin was close, but ultimately the people have spoken and on the basis of the declared results, those in support of the UK’s withdrawal of its membership from the EU, have carried the day. We acknowledge that the outcome means that the UK will need to initiate the necessary legal and other steps to withdraw from the EU, in accordance with the relevant treaty obligations. This will have significant implications for Jamaica-UK relations and possibly for Jamaica-EU relations. We note also the announcement made by the British Prime Minister early this morning and continue to monitor related political developments.

Jamaica and the UK share a strong historical bond of friendship and cooperation, at the bilateral level and in other spheres of engagement. Yesterday’s vote to leave the EU means that the UK will eventually cease to be part of the relevant arrangements that govern Jamaica-EU relations, including the ACP-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement and the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.

Notwithstanding, we trust that renewed efforts will be made to strengthen and expand the Jamaica-UK partnership in all areas, not least in relation to trade, investment and development cooperation. We are certainly committed to working towards these goals. At the same time, we reaffirm our commitment to the Jamaican Diaspora in the UK and express the hope that they and their families will realise their aspirations and contribute to the prospects for a revitalised relationship between Jamaica and the UK.

It is our hope that the UK will unite in dealing with what is undoubtedly a new and historic phase in its history.  We wish the Government and people of the UK well as they seek to move forward, taking account of the referendum result.