TRUMP'S TILLERSON TRAVELS TO JAMAICA: Tillerson-Jamaica meeting this week could test foreign policy strengths

Rex Tillerson

Sunday, February 04, 2018

It's not something that the Government of Jamaica will readily admit; being caught completely by surprise when the United States Government informed it that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will touchdown in Jamaica for a one-hour meeting, en route from stops in Mexico, Argentina, Peru, and Colombia.

The impending visit to the island led to the eruption of a vigorous online debate among Jamaicans, most of whom have serious concerns about what the US wants from Jamaica, especially given their view that the Jamaican Government is unwilling to resist any demand from the US.

Trump

This lack of confidence emerged after Jamaica abstained in the recent vote on Jerusalem in the General Assembly of the United Nations, after the US announced it would be moving its embassy to Israel's disputed holy city.

Apart from the usual suspects who see no evil, hear no evil, or speak no evil of the Government, the Andrew Holness Administration has taken flak for not following the well-known Jamaican path of voting its conviction, even in the most difficult of times.

Note that former Prime Minister Bruce Golding wondered loudly in his article in the Jamaica Observer last week whether the decision was lacking in courage. Last week also, another former prime minister, Mr P J Patterson, suggested in a speech: more