Jamaica briefs public on Ghana ties, Cuban students, USS Nimitz visit and AI plans

The Government used its post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, June 3, to update Jamaicans on foreign affairs, student welfare, defence diplomacy, diaspora engagement and technology policy, with presentations from Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith and Minister with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects Dr Andrew Wheatley.

Johnson Smith said Jamaica and Ghana had revived their Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation after 21 years, with meetings held in Accra on May 25 and 26. She said the talks produced agreements on health and defence, including support for recruiting Ghanaian health professionals, hospital management, digital health, telemedicine, maritime security, cyber defence, joint training and disaster response. Jamaica and Ghana also agreed to expand work in sport, culture, trade, investment, logistics, manufacturing, energy, creative industries and air services.

The minister said the Government remained engaged with Jamaican scholarship students in Cuba and had secured an increased stipend payment and early release of funds to reduce hardship. She said local institutions, including The University of the West Indies, Mona, and the Caribbean School of Medical Sciences, had indicated willingness to consider transfer applications, subject to their own admission rules.

On the USS Nimitz, Johnson Smith said the aircraft carrier was in Kingston Harbour from June 1 to 5 on a scheduled friendship and goodwill visit under the United States’ Southern Seas 2026 tour. She said the visit involved community projects, school refurbishing, STEM exchanges and engagement with the Jamaica Defence Force and universities.

The minister also promoted the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, scheduled for June 14 to 18 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, with a Diaspora Day of Service featuring 20 designated projects.

Wheatley outlined technology and innovation plans from his 2026/2027 sectoral presentation, including the 2026-2035 House of Innovation strategy, a US$250-million blended finance target, the NEST science programme for 500 early-childhood institutions, a national cyber security council, AI policy work due by November 2026, a J$545-million GAINS workforce training programme, data embassies, exploration of small modular nuclear reactors and a J$27-billion Jamaica National Recovery and Resilience Project through the Jamaica Social Investment Fund.