Diaspora voices concern as Jamaica skips UN vote on Palestinian speech
Published:Thursday | October 2, 2025 | 12:07 AMLester Hinds/Gleaner Writer
Members of the Jamaican diaspora are voicing concern over the Government’s decision not to cast a vote on a resolution that would have supported Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to address the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly by satellite.
Son of former Prime Minister Hugh Shearer, Corey Shearer, told The Gleaner on Tuesday that Jamaica, by not voting, silenced the voices of many Jamaicans at home and abroad.
“I think Jamaica should have voted. Our history is one where Jamaica has always been in the forefront of human rights,” said Shearer, a community activist.
Jamaica was absent from the September 19 vote on whether Abbas should be allowed to speak remotely after being denied a United States visa. According to United Nations records, 145 countries voted in favour, five voted against, six abstained, and 34 did not participate, including Jamaica.
Shearer said he hopes Jamaica’s absence was an anomaly, not the start of a trend.
“Many of us will remain disappointed that our country’s celebrated diversity and the deep rooted traditions that we hold dear did not result in an affirmative vote for such an equitable resolution that passed even with our glaring absence,” he said.
Pointing to Jamaica’s motto, ‘Out of Many, One People’, Shearer said the country has long stood for multicultural and interfaith action on the global stage. He also recalled the legacies of National Hero Marcus Garvey, reggae icon Bob Marley and his father, noting that each in their own way spoke to Jamaica’s global responsibilities.
He added that not voting has harmed Jamaica’s reputation as a defender of oppressed peoples worldwide.
“It is a disservice to those under oppression wherever they are,” he said.
Foreign minister defends move
In response to criticism, including from the Opposition, Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith said Jamaica’s decision aligned with the principles of the UN Charter, which seek to promote mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and the right of peoples to self-determination.
Johnson Smith, on Tuesday, said critics had ignored the Holness administration’s recognition of the State of Palestine last year.
“It is a matter of prominent public record that the Dr Holness-led Government of Jamaica took the decision to recognise the State of Palestine following deliberations of Cabinet in April 2024. At that time, I stated unequivocally that ‘Jamaica continues to advocate for a two-state solution as the only viable option to resolve the long-standing conflict, guarantee the security of Israel and uphold the dignity and rights of Palestinians. By recognising the State of Palestine, Jamaica strengthens its advocacy towards a peaceful solution.’”
Serial entrepreneur David Mullings said Jamaica’s absence reflects a shift from its historic role in the non-aligned movement.
Mullings, head of Blue Mahoe Capital, suggested the decision may have been influenced by Jamaica’s largest trading partner, the United States, but warned of long-term consequences.
“The day may come when Jamaica needs the support of the international community and will not get that support because it was not there when others needed Jamaica’s support,” he said. “It is well-known that the Jamaica Labour Party historically aligns with the Republican Party in the United States, so it is a strategy that I understand.”
Mullings said he believes Jamaica has abdicated its leadership role among developing countries.
Move may signal caution
Carla Spalding, a former Republican congressional candidate, said she believes each country must act in its best interest.
“I don’t know what the consequence of casting a vote would have been, but the Government made a decision based on what is best for Jamaica,” she said.
Dale Holness, former mayor of Broward County, Florida, said the government was best positioned to assess the matter.
“The Government is in the best position to know that there was no vote,” he said.
According to Dr Karren Dunkley said the non-vote has sparked questions in the diaspora given Jamaica’s stated support for a two-state solution.
“The absence of a vote must be understood within a broader diplomatic context. Was this a signal of caution in an increasingly complex geopolitical moment? A move to preserve Jamaica’s role as an honest broker in a region fraught with deep divisions?” she said. “Until further explanation is offered, it is clear that Jamaica has not abandoned its position, but perhaps exercised restraint in a moment where words and actions carry heightened consequences.”
She added that the decision should not be seen as a retreat but as a pause.
“If anything, it underscores the need for clarity. Jamaicans at home and abroad will look to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to articulate how this decision aligns with the island’s long-held commitment to justice, peace, and the dignity of all peoples,” Dunkley said.
In a further response, Johnson Smith said it was disingenuous to suggest Jamaica had been “silent” on Middle East issues. She pointed out that the prime minister addressed the matter at the UN General Assembly, where he said Jamaica was “deeply horrified by the devastating humanitarian consequences of the counteroffensive in Palestinian Territories.”