Johnson Smith appoints envoys to Belgium and CARICOM

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, has named two of the country’s most seasoned career diplomats to represent Jamaica in Belgium and CARICOM.

Diedre Mills will serve as Ambassador-designate to the Kingdom of Belgium and Head of Mission to the European Union, while Ambassador Esmond Reid has been appointed as Jamaica’s Plenipotentiary Representative to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

“Both diplomats have demonstrated exceptional dedication to public service and bring with them decades of experience in advancing Jamaica’s foreign policy objectives. I have full confidence in their ability to navigate complex international environments, build strategic partnerships and effectively advocate for Jamaica’s interests on issues ranging from trade and development, to regional cooperation and global diplomacy,” said Johnson Smith.

Ambassador-designate Diedre Mills is a career diplomat with more than 25 years in the Jamaican Foreign Service. She has held several senior assignments, including as Jamaica’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York and Deputy High Commissioner at the Jamaican High Commission in London.

She has also led key departments at the ministry, including the Multilateral Affairs and Bilateral Relations departments.

She has served as Jamaica’s lead negotiator in major global processes, including the UN High Seas Treaty and disarmament negotiations.

The foreign affairs ministry said Mills will lead Jamaica’s Mission in Brussels at a time when partnerships with the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) hold critical importance to Jamaica’s trade, investment and development cooperation.

In the meantime, the ministry said Ambassador Esmond Reid brings over three decades of diplomatic experience, with a strong background in trade negotiations and multilateral affairs.

He recently served as High Commissioner to Nigeria, with concurrent accreditation to several West and Central African countries.

Ambassador Reid has held senior leadership roles within the Ministry, including as Under-Secretary for Foreign Trade, and has represented Jamaica in key multilateral forums such as the World Trade Organization, the United Nations and CARICOM.

The ministry noted that his appointment as Jamaica’s Ambassador to CARICOM comes ahead of Prime Minister Holness’ assumption of the Chairmanship of the Conference of Heads of Government in July, and at a time when regional governments are working to deepen integration and advance key priorities within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

It said both senior diplomats are expected to assume duties imminently.

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