The Government is discussing recent developments in the United States (US) and their potential impact on Jamaica, says Minister of Education, Youth, Skills and Information, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon.
Days after US President, Donald Trump, took office on January 20, he ordered a global freeze on foreign aid for 90 days to allow for a review.
This move threatens billions of dollars of funding from the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for programmes worldwide.
The USAID has been investing in Jamaica for more than 60 years, supporting health, environment, education and citizen security.
During Wednesday’s (January 29) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Dr. Morris Dixon advised that the National Security Council met last Thursday.
“They were looking at these matters and so we have not been ignorant of them. We’ve been looking at them and we’ve been assessing them. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs [and Foreign Trade] has been in constant dialogue with our US partners,” she said, adding that Portfolio Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, will be giving further updates in very short order.
“We’ve been looking at these matters and developing positions in relation to our response to them,” Morris Dixon added.
The minister said she is aware that there are concerns around deportations too, sharing that Johnson Smith was down to address Wednesday’s press briefing, but had to attend a Cabinet legislative committee meeting.
