Women dominate senior management at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
EIGHTY-TWO per cent of the senior management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade are women.
Portfolio Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith made the disclosure during Tuesday’s International Women’s Day edition of post-Cabinet press briefing, held at Jamaica House.
International Women’s Day will be observed on March 8, under the theme ‘Accelerate Action’.
“Twenty-three out of 28 senior managers at the ministry are female. Out of our 19 missions and consular postings overseas, 10 are headed by women and the same number are deputies,” she said.
Johnson Smith shared that she recently had the privilege to walk two young ambassadors along the photo display of former foreign ministers at the ministry, which was dominated by facial hair and beards.
“All of the previous foreign ministers were males, and I was able to introduce them to the leadership of the ministry and they were almost entirely females, and we spoke about the fact that it wasn’t always this way, but what we have been able to do is foster an environment where our skills, which are naturally lent towards effective diplomacy, have been allowed to flourish and grow in a space where they are used for Jamaica’s phenomenally effective diplomatic engagements globally. This is something of which I am immensely proud,” she said.
Johnson Smith added that she is very grateful to have the opportunity to speak on the topic, as it enhances how she feels about the fact that she is part of an Administration that had the first female Member of Parliament, Iris Collins.
“We’re also part of the Parliament that has the largest percentage of women in Jamaica’s history. What a wonderful time to be a woman in Jamaica. So, there’s a lot for the young women here to look forward to, to aspire to,” she said.
Johnson Smith underscored that there is no escape from hard work, pointing out that none of the women in leadership have gotten their positions simply because they are women.
“We are here because we work. We work, we know our work, we are committed to Jamaica, we are dedicated to Jamaica land we love and nothing more and nothing less is what will get you to where you need to be,” she said.
— JIS
