Prime Minister Andrew Holness has firmly rejected suggestions that Jamaica bowed to pressure from the United States when it agreed to accept third-country nationals (TCNs) under a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MOU), insisting that the arrangement was carefully evaluated and aligned with Jamaica’s national interests.
Speaking during an interview on Cliff Hughes Online, Holness dismissed allegations that his administration acted out of fear of the administration of Donald Trump or concerns about maintaining favorable relations with Washington.
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“Jamaica has been asked to do many things before and we have not,” Holness stated. “We have made sure it complies with our laws, suits our political timetable, serves our interests, and is in the interest of our friends.”
The prime minister also rejected comparisons to the confrontational foreign policy style of former Jamaican leader Michael Manley, arguing that his focus is not ideological posturing but protecting Jamaica’s interests in an increasingly interconnected world.
The agreement, which has sparked intense public debate, will allow up to 25 undocumented migrants from third countries to transit through Jamaica every two weeks on their way to their countries of origin. The programme is being facilitated with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Holness stressed that Jamaica was not coerced into the arrangement and said government officials were fully aware of public concerns that the country could be perceived as a destination for unwanted migrants.
“We were very deliberate in what we do because we understand the Jamaican public psyche,” he said. “Absolutely not,” he added when asked directly whether Jamaica had been forced into signing the agreement.
The prime minister also addressed controversy surrounding former Jamaican Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks, whose name surfaced in discussions over the origins of the agreement. Holness suggested that comments made by Marks regarding Jamaica’s interest in developing structured labour migration programmes may have been incorrectly linked to the TCN arrangement.
According to Holness, the TCN programme and Jamaica’s exploration of labour migration opportunities are separate initiatives. He explained that Jamaica has been examining ways to address labour shortages as unemployment falls to historic lows, including structured recruitment partnerships with countries such as Ghana, India, Nigeria and the Philippines.
Holness pointed out that Jamaica already participates in several structured migration programmes, including long-standing farm work and hospitality worker arrangements abroad, while also recruiting healthcare professionals from countries such as Cuba.
Responding to criticism that the agreement was negotiated in secret, the prime minister argued that governments cannot publicly disclose ongoing negotiations before agreements are finalized. He described suggestions that the programme could be hidden from the public as unrealistic, noting that flights carrying migrants would immediately attract public attention.
Holness further emphasized that Jamaica is not acting alone, noting that dozens of countries, including several Caribbean states, have entered similar arrangements with the United States.
“The United States has asked countries that it considers its friends to assist them in managing their immigration challenges,” he said, urging Jamaicans to view international relations through a modern lens rather than through the ideological divisions of previous decades.
The issue remains politically contentious, with opposition parties, trade unions and civil society groups continuing to raise concerns about transparency, accountability and the potential long-term implications of the arrangement for Jamaica.
