KIGALI, Rwanda–The Prime Minister of the UK, Boris Johnson, is endorsing Jamaica’s Kamina Johnson Smith for the position of Commonwealth Secretary-General, The New Times, Rwanda’a leading daily, reported on Saturday, May 20.
In a tweet Thursday, May 19, Johnson said: “With a month to go until the Commonwealth comes together in Rwanda, delighted to confirm the UK will support @kaminajsmith’s campaign to be the next Secretary General.”
“She has the vast experience & support to unite our unique family of nations and seize the opportunities ahead.”
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has also voiced her support. In another tweet, Truss added: “The UK will be supporting @kaminajsmith ’s campaign to be the next Commonwealth Secretary General.”
“She is ideal to lead this great organisation committed to democracy, prosperity and peace.”
The two leaders join Singapore and the Maldives in endorsing Johnson Smith to succeed the incumbent, Baroness Patricia Scotland.
On May 8, Johnson Smith, who is also Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, started a tour of eight African Commonwealth member states to discuss the future of the Commonwealth. She met with various government officials from Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria and Ghana to discuss her vision for the Commonwealth and the critical importance of the Africa-Caribbean cohort in the family of nations.
An earlier statement noted that her transformative vision for the Commonwealth includes a renewed commitment to food security, delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals, advocacy for small states, gender and youth empowerment, good governance, and technical cooperation. Minster Johnson Smith is committed to advancing collaboration, building consensus and promoting peace and prosperity within the Commonwealth. See complete article in The New Times, Rwanda’s leading daily, at https://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/uk-endorses-jamaica-foreign-minister-top-commonwealth-job
