KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has condemned the Government for what it describes as a failure to show solidarity with the Palestinian people during key moments at the United Nations General Assembly.

In a statement on Tuesday, Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign, Regional and Diaspora Affairs, Senator Donna Scott-Mottley, raised concerns about Jamaica’s absence from a vote on whether Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas should have been allowed to address the Assembly remotely after being denied a US visa. She also criticised the administration’s decision not to join other countries in walking out during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address.

“Jamaica has always been respected internationally for standing firmly on matters of justice and human rights,” Scott-Mottley said. “To be absent from the vote and to remain seated while others registered protest is a clear departure from that proud tradition. Our silence sends the wrong signal to the international community and to the Palestinian people who continue to suffer.”

The senator dismissed the foreign minister’s explanation that Jamaica’s approach was consistent with diplomatic practice. She argued instead that the nation’s history shows a record of principle and moral leadership, citing past stances such as Jamaica’s opposition to apartheid South Africa and its advocacy for small states.

“The Government’s passivity weakens Jamaica’s moral voice and undermines our legacy of courage,” Scott-Mottley added, reaffirming the PNP’s commitment to a foreign policy “guided by justice, human dignity, and respect for international law.”