Martin Ngoga has been formally accredited as High Commissioner of Rwanda to Jamaica, marking a new chapter in the growing bilateral relations between the two countries.

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Ngoga, who also serves as Rwanda&039;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, presented his Letters of Credence on Tuesday, March 17, to Jamaica’s Governor-General, Patrick Allen, during a ceremony held in Kingston.

On the occasion, the Rwandan envoy emphasized Kigali’s commitment to deepening ties with Jamaica and deepening cooperation across areas of mutual interest.

In welcoming Ngoga to Kingston, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith reiterated Jamaica’s appreciation for Rwanda’s recent support following Hurricane Melissa in October last year.

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She underscored the significance of Rwanda&039;s contribution, highlighting its donation of $1 million towards recovery efforts, followed by the deployment of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) engineer contingent that completed a two-month humanitarian mission on Monday.

The RDF Engineer Contingent worked alongside the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to support recovery efforts, reconstructing 62 houses for affected families. The teams also built classrooms for a local school and improved facilities at a home for children with disabilities.

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Kamina also acknowledged the trajectory of relations between the two countries, noting "steady progress in bilateral relations since their establishment on November 6, 1998.”

She also pointed to opportunities to further expand cooperation in tourism, health and capacity building.