"We are not a walk-out country" - Kamina Johnson Smith

Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, has sought to clarify Jamaica's strategy at the current United Nations General Assembly, affirming that "we are not a walk-out country."

The high level meeting runs from September 22 to October 2 in New York city.

One prominent feature of the opening sessions this week was a walk-out by several nations during the speech given by Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Israeli Prime Minister has been accused of war crimes and genocide in his military attacks on Iran and Gaza.

The walk-out has prompted questions from some Jamaicans and other observers about whether Jamaica joined the other nations in walking out.

The Foreign Affairs Minister did not say definitively what Jamaica did during Netanyahu's speech, but speaking in New York on Friday, she declared that “ We are not a walkout country.”

Elaborating, she said Jamaica always strives to be present for these occasions, “and this is not a new thing… Jamaica tries to be present throughout the debate. All countries don't, but we try. It's not a judgment call as to who is speaking. We make note of what is being said, and that is a part of our understanding of the world in which we are.”

The minister’s comments came during a town hall meeting involving Jamaicans and their partners in the diaspora.