“God wasn’t ready for me to leave Jamaica yet.”
That’s the response of Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, who lost her bid to overthrow Baroness Patricia Scotland for the title of Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
Scotland prevailed in the votes by gaining 27 votes to Johnson Smith’s 24.
The vote was held in Kigali, Rwanda at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
“Thanking all the countries and people who supported me in this journey! As I said to many of you – if I didn’t pull through, God wasn’t ready for me to leave Jamaica yet!” Johnson Smith tweeted Friday morning.
“Much love always, I continue to serve, and of course, sincere congratulations to Baroness Scotland. #OneLove,” she added.
“Kamina did very well. We are proud of her,” tweeted Robert Nesta Morgan, Jamaica’s defacto Information Minister.
Questions have already been asked about how much taxpayers have been forked out for the campaign, which has seen Johnson Smith travelling to several African to gain support.
Two weeks ago, a New York publication had reported that the Government forked out US$99,000 (approximately J$15 million) to acquire Finns Partners to provide PR, media relations and thought leadership services to Johnson Smith.
The Administration has yet to comment on the report.
