It was a night of celebration, reflection and fond farewells as the Embassy of the Dominican Republic hosted its 60th Diamond Gala Reception on Friday, December 6 at the official residence of the Dominican Republic ambassador in St Andrew.

The event not only acknowledged the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, under the theme “Celebrating 60 years of Friendship and the Birth of a New Era of Partnership, Connectivity, Trade, Achievements, Milestones and Shared Success”, but also served as the official send-off of Dominican Republic Ambassador to Jamaica, Angie Martinez and her husband Edward Perez, the Dominican Republic’s permanent representative to the International Seabed Authority.

Martinez, who is set to depart next month, expressed pride in the achievements of her three-and-a-half years in Jamaica, as well as the overwhelming support of the Jamaican people.

“It has been a privilege to witness the contribution and the dynamic and flourishing relationship over these last three-and-a-half years. I loved Jamaica before I arrived here. But I couldn’t imagine that I would receive the same love from Jamaica, from the top levels to the people on the street,” Martinez said. “All of these achievements have been possible because we had wonderful alliances in every corner.”

Martinez heralded the economic partnership between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic as one of the greatest achievements, with a total trade volume of US$134 million.

“This growth has been reciprocal. When I came here, I said from the beginning that I wanted to develop a win-win relationship between the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. I am confident that aspect has been the key to our success,” she continued. “This reflects our shared commitment, creating this balance in opportunities for both nations.”

Another milestone has been the introduction of direct flights between Kingston and Santo Domingo through Arajet Airlines. The route, which was established in 2022, has seen more than 75,000 passengers travelling between the two cities, a sharp increase from near-zero travellers in 2020. Additionally, the airline has opened another route to include Punta Cana.

“This is the most transcendental achievement that we have had over these 60 years. This has revolutionised travel between our two nations. These flights have opened new avenues for collaboration and deepened the ties between our people, bringing us closer than before,” Martinez said to lusty applause from the impressive gathering of fellow diplomats, industry leaders and Government members.

Martinez praised the contributions of the Jamaican Government in paving the way for increased collaborations, most notably Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith; and Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Daryl Vaz. Martinez noted that Vaz’s visit to the Dominican Republic in March 2024 has made way for a number of commitments to be fulfilled.

Additionally, Martinez highlighted the finalisation of an air service, which has been under negotiations for over 20 years, and which for her is another milestone that will strengthen the bilateral partnership. Martinez also used the opportunity to thank her team at the embassy for their dedication and efforts throughout her over three-year stint, confident of the legacy that will endure between the two nations.

“As we commemorate this 60-year milestone, let us not only honour the past, but embrace the future with optimism and determination. The bond between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic is strong and I am confident that it will only grow stronger in the years to come,” Martinez concluded.

In his response on behalf of the Government of Jamaica, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett praised Ambassador Martinez’s collaborative efforts, a testament to the enduring friendship of both nations.

“We stand as witnesses to the remarkable development of our bilateral relations with one of our closest geographical partners and friends. As we commemorate the diamond jubilee, the Government of Jamaica expresses its sincere gratitude to Ambassador Martinez for her enthusiasm and dynamism,” Bartlett said. “We will miss you and thank you for the wonderful relationship you have built that will endure long after you have left our shores.”