JAMAICA HAS officially welcomed the country's first resident High Commissioner from the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Thiyundise Henry Chiliza.
At a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, Minister Dr. Paul Robertson lauded "the prompt" decision of the one-year-old Thabo Mbeki regime to formally establish diplomatic relations with Jamaica. He reported that President Mbeki had been invited to make an official visit to the island. The Minister also hinted that a Jamaican ambassador to South Africa would be named soon.
Jamaica, through the University of Technology (UTech), has also extended two scholarships to South African nationals.
Referring to a recent exploratory business trip to South Africa by a combined public and private sector Caribbean delegation, High Commissioner Chiliza and Foreign Trade Minister Anthony Hylton both spoke of plans to forge stronger economic ties between South Africa and the region. The High Commissioner stressed that establishing such ties "would be the main purpose" of his mission.
Meanwhile, South Africa has expressed strong interest in studying the National Housing Trust (NHT) and the Human Employment and Resource Training (HEART) programmes, as well as current moves by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) towards the establishment of a single market. South Africa, a member of the South African Development Community, is also in the process of developing a single market with its southern African neighbours.
The former African National Congress (ANC) official also expressed his country's appreciation for Jamaica's "unwavering support" during South Africa's liberation struggle.
Previous diplomatic duties of the Durban-born 54-year-old included being South African Ambassador to Romania and non-resident Ambassador to Moldovia, Hungary and Croatia. The offices of the High Commission will be located on the 7th floor of the First Life building in New Kingston.
