JAMAICA will temporarily close its embassy in the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, effective August 1, after a lack of revenue from visa fees left the office without the funding necessary to continue operations.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith made the announcement on Wednesday during a post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House.

Johnson Smith explained that after both countries waived the visa requirement for residents who travelled to and from them in March 2025, revenue contracted which directly impacted the funding of the embassy’s procedures.

“We will temporarily close Jamaica’s embassy in Santo Domingo with effect from the 1st of August,” said Johnson Smith.

“The embassy had been historically financed not from the ministry’s budget but from earnings from visa fees, and you might recall that we entered into reciprocal…visa-free waiver arrangements, and with the inability to collect visa fees, there is no a longer budget that is pre-programmed to support the embassy,” added Johnson Smith.

She underscored that the pause of service by the Jamaican consulate in the Dominican Republic was not as a result of soured ties but strictly due to a lack of funding.

“You may wish to note that this is not a reflection of our diplomatic, or political, or trade relations, with the Dominican Republic. So we have determined to implement a temporary closure while we revisit the matter of financing, of location, of the broader administrative arrangements, and we are engaged with the Government of the Dominican Republic on that,” said the foreign affairs minister.

Johnson Smith insisted that this was not the end of diplomatic ties between the two nations and pointed out that Jamaica’s honorary consul Enrique De Marchena Kaluche, who is based in Puerto Plata in that country, will continue to receive Jamaica’s support as the matter is worked through.

“This was a matter of pure administrative prudency, and we will, of course, continue to support Jamaica’s consular needs through our honorary consul in Puerto Plata and he has agreed to continue to provide services to others residing in or travelling through Dom Rep, and the ministry will update you as soon as we have anything further to say on developments in this matter,” said Johnson Smith.