India external affairs minister strengthens Jamaica ties on historic visit

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar made a historic official visit to Jamaica, the first by an Indian foreign minister, with engagements highlighting heritage, cricket, diplomacy and development cooperation between both countries.

The visit opened at the Indian Arrival Monument in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, where Jamaican officials and diplomats welcomed the minister and his delegation. A plaque was unveiled at the site, which commemorates the arrival of the first Indians to Jamaica in 1845 as indentured labourers. Speakers noted that the monument, first unveiled in 1983 and later redone, remains a marker of the shared history between India and Jamaica.

The delegation later travelled to Sabina Park in Kingston for the unveiling of a friendship logo and plaque, along with a state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard gifted by the Government and people of India. Officials said the scoreboard continues India’s support for Jamaican cricket, following the provision of floodlights at Sabina Park in 2014 and the donation of more than 90 cricket kits in January 2024, valued at about US$50,000, for primary and secondary schools.

Speakers at Sabina Park described cricket as one of the strongest links between the two nations. They also pointed to Jamaica’s contribution to world cricket through players such as George Headley, Michael Holding, Courtney Walsh, Chris Gayle and Andre Russell, and expressed hope that Indian cricketers would again return to play at the ground.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness said Jamaica valued India’s support beyond sport, noting that diplomatic relations were established on August 12, 1962, shortly after Independence. He said cooperation now spans capacity building, education, health, agriculture, security, culture and sport.

The minister also paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister, where several memoranda of understanding were signed covering digital transformation, health services, sport and culture. His final stop was at The University of the West Indies, Mona, where he spoke about India’s role in global growth, demographic change, climate events, international cooperation and reform of the United Nations.