President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, says it is time for the Caribbean region and the African continent to establish more direct contacts instead of resorting to the use of multilateral organisations to establish such links.

Kagame, who is on a three-day state visit to Jamaica, made the comment Thursday afternoon while addressing a special joint sitting of the Jamaican Parliament at Gordon House in downtown Kingston.

“Africa and the Caribbean should work together to advance common positions in these (multilateral) bodies where our interests align as they often do,” Kagame said to sustained applause. He noted that such common positions include matters related to climate change and global health.

“Africa and Jamaica do not have to relate to each other only through intermediaries. Our diplomats tend to meet in New York, London or Geneva. I do not have a problem with that but we could do it otherwise,” Kagame said.

“It is high time for Africa and the Caribbean to work together in (a) direct and sustained manner, both through our present regional organisations – Caricom and the African Union – and bilaterally,” he added.

The visiting president said the first Africa-Caricom Summit that was held last September was long overdue and must be built upon.

“There should also be direct people to people exchanges particularly for the youth and entrepreneurs,” he stated.

Kagame, who was lauded by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Opposition Leader Mark Golding and President of the Senate, Tom Tavares-Finson for transforming Rwanda into one of the leading countries in Africa, and an example of overcoming great odds, noted that Jamaican professionals have already visited Rwanda and have made “meaningful contributions” some as representatives of leading international organisations.

“This has only made us want to see more people from Jamaica and this region in Rwanda,” he said.

He stressed that Rwanda was keen to cooperate with Jamaica much more closely, and share experiences in “…investments as well as national unity and citizen development”.

Meanwhile, Kagame thanked Jamaica for supporting Rwanda in becoming a member of The Commonwealth.

“We are not strangers to one another. In our diversity, we share common traits, our peoples are resilient, creative, and, as our common history shows, also indestructible,” he said to more sustained applause.

He said that as the newest member of The Commonwealth, Rwanda is proud to host the next Commonwealth meeting in June.

“And I can’t forget to thank…Jamaica for supporting Rwanda,” Kagame said while expressing that Rwanda hopes to see a strong representation from the Caribbean at the next meeting of The Commonwealth.

At that meeting, Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, will challenge the incumbent Secretary-General of The Commonwealth, the Dominica-born Baroness Patricia Scotland for the top job.