MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith formally launched Jamaica’s candidature for secretary general of the Commonwealth in London, United Kingdom, on Thursday.

With increasing whispers in diplomatic circles that Jamaica has already been endorsed by several of the 54 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific, which make up the Commonwealth, Johnson Smith selected the home of the Secretariat to launch her campaign.

“I welcome this opportunity to launch and to lobby for our candidature in London as it is the seat of the Commonwealth. I have been provided with the opportunity to engage with members of the board of governors, to listen to their views and interests and to solicit support from stakeholders.

“It has been a true privilege to share my vision and my pledge, if appointed, to lead the secretariat in re-energising the delivery of meaningful support to all our Commonwealth member states. I was pleased to share my profile and candidature statement with the membership in bilateral meetings in the days prior, and will continue to do so,” said Johnson Smith.

“To date, we have made outreach to member states at the highest level, to colleagues in capitals in which Jamaica maintains diplomatic missions, as well as directly with the capitals of Commonwealth countries. Lobbying efforts are being supported by a dedicated website and, of course, social media. In the conduct of these activities, I have had the full support of my ministry and of the Office of the Prime Minister,” added Johnson Smith.

Following the conclusion of her activities in London today, Johnson Smith heads to New York to participate in the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Forum on Financing for Development Follow-up where she will deliver Jamaica’s national statement, and use the opportunity to lobby for support.

“As a national and representative of a small state, I am truly inspired by the unique relationship that characterises our Commonwealth.

“The Commonwealth Charter provides a strong framework for promoting peace and prosperity, as well as modalities for cooperation among our member states, fostering friendship, fraternal dialogue and mutual respect,” declared Johnson Smith.

A decision on the appointment of a secretary general is to be made during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, from June 20-25.

On April 1, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) stunned many in Jamaica, and the rest of the region, when it announced that Johnson Smith would be nominated to replace Baroness Patricia Scotland as head of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

As the shock waves reverberated around the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Prime Minister Andrew Holness doubled down and told the House of Representatives that towards the latter part of the initial term of the current secretary general, several countries, including Jamaica, were approached regarding the possibility of nominating a candidate for the post.

“On the strength of that feedback, and more importantly, my personal knowledge of the minister’s unwavering commitment to public service in the interest of global development, we took a sovereign decision to put forward a candidate that has demonstrated the skill, energy and competence to bring unity, accountability and focus to the leadership of the Secretariat and the wider Commonwealth family,” declared Holness.

Following the announcement from Kingston, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne described it as a “monumental error”, saying he was hoping that the matter would be resolved amicably.

There were further indications that other Caricom leaders had initially decided to back Scotland and found themselves in a quandary with the nomination of Johnson Smith.

Following a hastily arranged caucus, the Caricom Heads of Government decided to appoint a sub-committee comprising of The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Jamaica, to meet with Johnson Smith and Scotland in an attempt to arrive at a unified regional position.

There has been no word yet on the outcome of those meetings.