The UK Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, , arrives in Jamaica today
for a visit focused on violence prevention and climate resilience
- her first trip to the Western Caribbean since being appointed.
During her two-day trip, will visit Edward Seaga
Primary School, an early beneficiary of the UK-Jamaica Violence
Prevention Programme (VPP) - one of the UK's largest aid projects
in the region. Her visit marks the start of the programme's
implementation, with plans for interventions across further
Jamaican schools.
The VPP, which will provide £15m over six years, will support the
Government of Jamaica to develop more effective responses to the
underlying causes of violent crime, with the aim of eradicating
violence through grassroots community activities and engagement
with educational institutions.
UK Caribbean Minister, said:
Jamaica is a highly valued Commonwealth partner. My visit is an
important opportunity to build on our two countries close
collaboration.
I am excited to see first-hand how our joint work on key
challenges - from violent crime to climate resilience - is making
a difference to Jamaicans.
The Minister will also visit an upgraded healthcare centre in
Mandeville, funded by the UK through the ‘SMART' Hospital
Programme and implemented by the Pan American Health
Organisation. She will tour the facility, which was able to
largely withstand the impacts of Hurricane Beryl, remaining in
operation to provide critical care to residents.
The UK continues to invest in building climate resilient
infrastructure, having provided £8m towards the ‘SMART' hospital
initiative in Jamaica, which has helped provide improvement to
the facilities and a dedicated toolkit to staff. In July 2024,
the UK also provided up to £500,000 to support Caribbean nations
severely affected by Hurricane Beryl.
While in Jamaica, the Minister will meet Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, Kamina Johnson , where they will discuss the
importance of the UK-Jamaica bilateral relationship and areas of
cooperation. She will also meet with influential business figures
and Chevening scholars.
To conclude her visit, the Minister will unveil a UK-Jamaica
mural in downtown Kingston, painted by local artist Michael
Elliot. The mural reflects the significant
contribution of the Windrush Generation.
