ADDRESS BY SENATOR THE HONOURABLE ARNOLD NICHOLSON MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE OF JAMAICA

TO THE NATIONAL LAUNCH OF JAMAICA 50 CANADA 22ND MARCH, 2012

Salutations

I greet you with the warmth of the Caribbean sun and of the

Government and people of Jamaica. It is a supreme pleasure to be in

Canada, my first visit since taking office in January of this year.

The fact of my presence in Ottawa for the National Launch of Jamaica

50 Canada is no coincidence. Indeed, it is an expression of the

deliberate decision taken by the Government of Prime Minister Portia

Simpson Miller to lend full support to the Jamaican Diaspora in its

activities in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s

Independence this year.

Had it not been for unavoidable obligations at home which require her

presence and attention, the Prime Minister would have wished to be

here personally for this event. On her behalf, I extend warm greetings

to all persons present at this, the heart of Government facilities in

Canada, and best wishes for a pleasant evening and a successful year

of activities.

I greet the Chairpersons of the Jamaica 50 Committees. I greet you

from Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa; I greet you from Montreal, from

Winnipeg, from Edmonton, Regina and Victoria. You have been

instrumental in making this the largest gathering of the Jamaican

community in one place, any time, anywhere in Canada. Our High

Commissioner asserts that this represents a reaffirmation of the links

of Canada to Jamaica: a vision of the celebration of our partnership –

a partnership which has deep and lasting roots. Our Consul General

and Honorary Consuls agree.

Fifty years in the life of a country, relatively speaking, is not a very

long time. Canada, for example, will celebrate this year the 145th year

of its Confederation. Many countries in our hemisphere are beyond

their bi-centenary; and so fifty years, in reality, puts us closer to

infancy in comparative terms and offers much room for us to continue

on our journey towards growth and development.

It is against this background that there is undisputed cause for a

nation as small as ours, both in population and economic size, as well

as in geographical dimensions, to mark its golden Jubilee with vigour

and with resounding joy.

We can do so because of the credible role we have played on the

international stage to give support to countries around the world with

which we share similar principles and outlook. Jamaica, for example,

was among the first to support the imposition of sanctions against the

then apartheid government of South Africa.

We can do so, because of our support for multilateralism and for

international institutions and mechanisms, and in this regard, we recall

that Jamaica’s intervention led to the adoption of the International

Year of Human Rights in 1965.

We can do so, because of the convictions we have about the valuable

role of regional and sub-regional institutions like the OAS and

CARICOM and of our commitment to work with sister countries within

those bodies.

We can do so because we are conscious of the support and assistance

which Jamaica has received from countries, organizations and

institutions around the world, recognizing that we are not alone in our

struggle to make sense of our independence and that we are an

integral part of the global village.

I am pleased therefore to note the presence of representatives of

several members of the diplomatic corps, from countries with which

Jamaica engages in vibrant bilateral relations. Through you, I thank

your countries for your support over these fifty years.

In other respects, Jamaica is proud of the contributions which we have

been privileged to make. We have given to the world our reggae

music, our Blue Mountain Coffee, our Appleton Rum and our jerked

foods. We have shared with you some of the most notable of our

people – Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley and more recently Usain Bolt,

whose reputation as the fastest man in the world was almost

threatened by Prince Harry of England!

Our professionals, international civil servants, scientists, artists,

among so many others, have made such an impact that we are proud

to say that for a country our size, Jamaica packs a healthy punch. We

need not be shy about the beauty of our island home and the

acknowledged feminine pulchritude that we present to the world.

But this is not an evening to exalt our achievements, as tempting as

that might be. We have a whole year in which to do so! And even as

we do, we cannot remain oblivious to the mistakes we have made and

the challenges which, as a country, we continue to face.

This evening, I would wish for us to take note of our presence in

Canada and to observe that this country was the first of three with

which we entered into diplomatic relations on our assumption of

Independence. Our relations with Canada are among those of which

we are justly proud and I am happy to say that the fifty years of

relations have brought rich benefits to both sides.

These relations, however, go well beyond those fifty years. Our rum

and molasses sustained this country since commercial trading began

over two hundred years ago, entering through the eastern part of the

territory. In return, Canada gave us among other things, salted cod,

whose real significance lies in its marriage with our ackee to become

the National Dish of Jamaica – a match made in heaven, for those who

have tasted!

While Canada helped to develop our bauxite industry, we placed some

of our agricultural exports in your market-place. Our relations as

trading partners have continued to today, institutionalized currently

under the CARIBCAN agreement and hopefully successor

arrangements that might come to be put in place.

At the bilateral level, and as a result of the policies which successive

Canadian Governments have adopted over nearly 50 years, Jamaica

has been the recipient of cherished technical assistance. In the fields

of education, health, local government, justice reform and in disaster

preparedness and relief we have been able to count on the bounty that

flows from the Canadian Government and people.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the military cooperation for most

of these years. So successful has been that military support that, last

year, when the Canadian Government offered helicopter and personnel

as a precautionary measure for the hurricane season, we had no

hurricanes! For this, and so much more, we thank you Canada,

recognizing that the milestone of our 50th anniversary is a most

opportune occasion to express our gratitude.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The population of our small country is only 2.8 million and you may

wish to note that, in Canada alone, reside 10 per cent of our

Jamaicans, an estimated quarter of a million Jamaican Canadians. Our

great pride in our achievements as a country is due largely to our

people who are known to work hard and to excel wherever they are

found.

We welcome with glee the presence of a Jamaican in the Senate of this

great country, a former Lieutenant Governor, Provincial Ministers of

Government, members of Provincial legislatures; Jamaicans in

academia, in philanthropy, as judges, in journalism (as is our Master of

Ceremonies) health, in the arts and culture, sports and religion.

Our Government and people at home are proud of you and we value

your presence and contribution as the most tangible expression of the

firmness and the vibrancy of the relationship that binds your country

of heritage, Jamaica, to your home country, Canada.

I acknowledge the outstanding diplomatic and consular representation

that we have provided in Canada over fifty years to oversee our

interests and relations, even as I recognize that which we have

received in Kingston. Our relations remain strong, deep and wide, and

I entertain every expectation that they will continue along that path.

I wish to thank those who have organized this event, led by our

cerebral and effervescent High Commissioner, for the sterling effort to

mark the occasion of this launch of the Jamaica 50 celebrations in

Canada in this unforgettable manner. I repeat, I am delighted to see

those who have come from our communities, from Toronto, Hamilton,

Montreal, Ottawa and as far away as Regina, Victoria and Winnipeg.

You make us proud and I wish for all every success in the activities in

which you will engage throughout the year.

Your private sector partners, those of Jamaican origin as well as

Canadian companies, are but a reflection of the fruitful relations and

goodwill which exist at the official level. We are obliged to

acknowledge the foresight exercised by Scotiabank when it established

its first overseas branch in Kingston Jamaica, ahead of that in Toronto,

and the relations with Jamaica and the Caribbean region remain one of

the strongest in the commercial sphere.

Thank you all for your support for this evening’s proceedings. I am

particularly delighted to see our young people who represent the

future: the next fifty years. Let us strive, in our individual and

professional capacities, to ensure that the years ahead will witness the

fruition of the promise that Jamaica holds, as we erect the platform

that must stand on the foundation of the past fifty years.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank you for your kind attention and wish that you will have an

unforgettable experience this evening, in this place. May you be richly

blessed.

I thank you.

11/03/12