Inception of the Ministry

With the advent of independence, Jamaica attained the status of a sovereign state with the right to take full responsibility not only for national security and defenses but also for its relations with the international community and foreign countries. On that basis, Jamaica was able to:

• negotiate treaties and agreements which protected Jamaica's national interests;
• set up consular services in foreign countries to protect the interests of Jamaican's overseas;
• collect and analyze information on political, economic, trade and social developments issues which had an impact on the island's national goals; and
• participate in multilateral activities through membership in international and regional organizations.

In order to achieve these objectives, the Ministry of External Affairs was established on the attainment of Independence on 6 August 1962. The name was changed to Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1976, in an effort to more accurately reflect the portfolio responsibilities of the Ministry. The name was later changed to include the Ministry of Foreign Trade in order to encapsulate the economic responsibilities of the Ministry.