Bureau of Global Public Affairs – Office of the Spokesperson
Jamaica is a strong partner in advancing shared values and strategic interest in security
- The United States’ relationship with Jamaica stretches back fifty-seven years. We are friends, partners, and allies with enduring cultural and economic ties and an unwavering commitment to democratic values.
- Over the past six months, the United States and Jamaica finalized four key security-related agreements to expand our joint capabilities to combat transnational crime, illicit trade, and aviation safety.
- The Department of State and USAID are working together to professionalize law enforcement and strengthen counternarcotics, rule of law, child trafficking, and anti-corruption efforts.
- The United States is helping Jamaica enhance its marine domain awareness and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capacities, including through an advisor program for Jamaica’s Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
- Our countries are advancing cybersecurity, including hosting the inaugural Cyber Capacity Building Workshop for the Caribbean and Latin America – the first of its kind for the region – and through the development of an innovative cybersecurity degree program with the Caribbean Military Academy and Arizona State University.
- Together, at the OAS, we have consistently advanced policies in support of human rights and democracy in the region wherever threatened, including in Venezuela and Nicaragua.
The United States supports Jamaica’s regional leadership on security, energy, and infrastructure
- US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness launched the U.S.-Jamaica Energy Infrastructure Finance Working Group in November 2018 to expand energy supply and generation, transmission, and grid solutions, and energy investment.
- In December 2019, Jamaica was one of the first four countries to join the Growth in the Americas Initiative, to accelerate private sector-led economic growth in energy and infrastructure projects.
- The US Department of the Treasury is establishing a resident advisor to assist the Ministry of Finance with the tendering and financing of large infrastructure projects, such as the proposed Government Oval project.
- USAID established a new $25 million loan portfolio guarantee mechanism with the National Commercial Bank for small-scale energy projects throughout the Caribbean.
- Jamaica will soon join the US Trade and Development Agency Global Procurement Initiative, which provides $800,000 in technical assistance to promote greater efficiency, transparency, and confidence in Jamaica’s government procurement.
US assistance bolsters Jamaica disaster resilience and health
- In consonance with the US Caribbean Resilience Partnership, the United States is working with Jamaica to strengthen cooperation and advance resilience to withstand the impacts of natural disasters, climate change, and extreme weather events by leveraging Caribbean and American innovation and expertise.
- In October and December 2019, the Partnership announced approximately $19.5 million in support of these objectives throughout the region.
- The United States is providing $5 million to support Disaster Risk Financing, which will make Jamaica more prepared for natural disasters and save lives.
- Working with Jamaican health authorities, we are combatting HIV in Jamaica, including through support for more than 11,000 Jamaicans on life-saving anti-retroviral treatment.
