KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has criticized the Government for what it calls a failure to uphold Jamaica’s long-standing tradition of moral leadership on global justice issues, following its silence on key moments concerning Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly.
Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign, Regional and Diaspora Affairs, Senator Donna Scott-Mottley, voiced concern over Jamaica’s absence from a vote that would have allowed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the Assembly remotely after being denied a U.S. visa. She also condemned the Government’s decision not to join other countries in staging a walkout during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech.
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“Jamaica has always been respected internationally for standing firmly on matters of justice and human rights,” Scott-Mottley said. “To be absent from the vote and to remain seated while others registered protest is a clear departure from that proud tradition. Our silence sends the wrong signal to the international community and to the Palestinian people who continue to suffer.”
She rejected the foreign minister’s defense that Jamaica’s stance aligned with diplomatic norms, countering that Jamaica’s history demonstrates a record of principled action. She cited the country’s opposition to apartheid South Africa and its consistent advocacy for small states as examples of leadership grounded in justice.
“The Government’s passivity weakens Jamaica’s moral voice and undermines our legacy of courage,” Scott-Mottley added, reaffirming the PNP’s commitment to a foreign policy “guided by justice, human dignity, and respect for international law.”
