Dr. Richard Benal
WASHINGTON, USA — The highly anticipated visit of President Barack Obama to Jamaica this week is creating marked interest among Jamaicans within the US Diaspora.
Obama will make a two-day official visit to Jamaica on April 8 and 9, while on his way to the Summit of the Americas in Panama. While in the country he will hold bi-lateral discussions on a range of issues of mutual interest. During the visit the US president will also meet with heads of government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to discuss issues on the CARICOM-US agenda, which will also include energy, security and trade.
Former Jamaican ambassador to the United States and counselor for Jamaica at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Dr. Richard Bernal, in reacting to the president’s visit, said, “The visit of President Obama is a very positive development for Jamaica.”
The IDB executive pointed out that “the visit is a critically important opportunity to convey to the president and his foreign policy advisors, the issues of concern to Jamaica and to reiterate the government’s commitment to continue to implement a very challenging economic program.”
Bernal, Jamaica’s longest serving ambassador to Washington, explained that when a president visits a country or region, the engagement is preceded by an intense inter-agency process that focuses on every aspect of the relationship with the US. This augurs well for the president’s meeting with CARICOM leaders on economic, security and energy issues.
Read more at caribbeannewsnow.com
