Taxpayers funding Commonwealth campaign travels – Johnson Smith
Published:Tuesday | June 7, 2022 | 12:13 AM
Taxpayers are footing the bill of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith’s bid for the post of secretary general of the Commonwealth, it was confirmed on Monday.
In a press statement, Johnson Smith stated that “travel costs are being met through the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other support is being provided by the Office of the Prime Minister”.
No financing has been provided by other governments, the foreign minister said.
The Gleaner sought, for several weeks, answers from Johnson Smith regarding the race for office, including financing, but no response was forthcoming.
Analysts quoted in The Sunday Gleaner said that the Government was accountable to the people of Jamaica and had a right to know the details.
“There are no secrets around the financing of this campaign. We remain fully committed to transparency and accountability. The cost of the campaign will therefore be reported at the campaign’s conclusion,” Johnson Smith said.
The foreign affairs minister also thanked “all Jamaicans who continue to express their support and encouragement for the campaign”.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will be held June 20-25 in Kigali, Rwanda.