Dear Editor,

I have been watching the race for Commonwealth Secretary General.

I want us to first acknowledge that Minister Kamina Johnson Smith seems to be very qualified and competent to represent the Caribbean based on her background, experience, and qualifications. I remember going to an event in Jamaica hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. I believe it was Diplomatic Week and Minister Johnson Smith in her address to the diplomatic community spoke about the international relations that Jamaica has been able to develop and improve, especially in trade relations. I was very impressed.

At this same diplomatic event I was impressed to know that Minister Johnson Smith had led over 110 debates resulting in the passage of 69 statutes and 48 resolutions across government portfolios that serve to tackle Jamaica’s high crime rate; facilitate reforms to the justice system; and combat human trafficking, money laundering, cybercrimes; issues relating to building and land titling; public procurement; and data protection as well as intellectual property and more. This is quite impressive.

I believe Minister Johnson Smith is the right person for the job of Secretary General of the Commonwealth. Moreover, while serving the people of Jamaica, she has reviewed laws concerning violence against women and children, reform of the anti-corruption institutional framework in Jamaica as well as the island’s Customs law and the law to establish the independence of the central bank.

And, unlike her Caribbean counterpart, Johnson Smith is actually a national and resident of Jamaica, and will, more than likely, present real issues and lived experiences affecting us, instead of hiding behind the Caribbean heritage of her parents.

Baroness Patricia Scotland’s life’s work has brought her to battle with hegemony in the deep and dark trenches lined with poverty, gender inequality, underdevelopment, underfunding, crime, and of course, corruption. On the subject of corruption, I want to point out, too, that unlike some people living in the United Kingdom who are vying for the post, there are no lingering allegations of corruption made against the good minister.

So it begs the question: Why should Baroness Scotland stay? It’s now public knowledge or should I say looming gossip that the Baroness has lost the support of a number of nations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand — some of the largest contributors to the Comonwealth of Nations.

To give Jamaica and other small island developing states a real fighting chance for strategic development, I see no other viable option than to herald our support for the minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade from Jamaica.

Matthew Anderson