The Prime Minister of the UK, Boris Johnson, is endorsing Jamaica's Kamina Johnson Smith for the position of Commonwealth Secretary General.
In a tweet Thursday, May 19, Johnson said: "With a month to go until the Commonwealth comes together in Rwanda, delighted to confirm the UK will support @kaminajsmith's campaign to be the next Secretary General."
"She has the vast experience & support to unite our unique family of nations and seize the opportunities ahead."
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has also voiced her support. In another tweet, Truss added: "The UK will be supporting @kaminajsmith ’s campaign to be the next Commonwealth Secretary General."
"She is ideal to lead this great organisation committed to democracy, prosperity and peace."
The two leaders join Singapore and the Maldives in endorsing Johnson Smith to succeed the incumbent, Baroness Scotland.
On May 8, Johnson Smith who is also Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, started a tour of eight African Commonwealth member states to discuss the future of the Commonwealth. She met with various government officials from Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria and Ghana to discuss her vision for the Commonwealth and the critical importance of the Africa-Caribbean cohort in the family of nations.
An earlier statement noted that her transformative vision for the Commonwealth includes a renewed commitment to food security, delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals, advocacy for small states, gender and youth empowerment, good governance, and technical cooperation. Minster Johnson Smith is committed to advancing collaboration, building consensus and promoting peace and prosperity within the Commonwealth.
The Jamaican Minister announced her candidature for Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations in April.
She intends to succeed Dominican-born Patrici, the current Secretary-General of Commonwealth, a post she held since April 1, 2016.
This June, Commonwealth Member States will select their next Secretary-General when they convene in Rwanda at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that will be held from June 20 to 25.
Jamaica’s first female Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Johnson Smith, also serves as leader of government business in Jamaica’s Senate.
She is the Chair of the Cabinet’s International Relations Sub-Committee, a member of the Economic Growth and Job Creation Sub-Committee and is also a member of Jamaica’s National Security Council.
The Secretary-General is nominated by Commonwealth leaders and can serve a maximum of two terms of four years each.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General is responsible for:promoting and protecting the Commonwealth’s values, representing the Commonwealth publicly, and the management of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The former Commonwealth SecretarieKamalesh Sharma of India (2008-2016); Don McKinnon of New Zealand (2000-2008); Chief Emeka Anyao of Nigeria (1990-2000); Sir Shridath ‘Ramphal of Guyana (1975-1990); and Arnold Smith of Canada (1965-1975).