US President Barack Obama
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – President of the United States Barack Obama is expected to indicate his strong support for the work being undertaken by the Jamaican Government to reform the country’s economy under the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Extended Fund Facility.
The president is scheduled to visit Jamaica from April 8 to 9, en route to Panama for the Sixth Summit of the Americas.
Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the US National Security Council, Ricardo Zuniga, who gave a preview of the president’s visit to Jamaica during a White House Press Call on Tuesday, said it will provide an opportunity to commend the Government’s efforts to address the debt crisis.
“We’ll have an opportunity to speak with Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller about our strong support for Jamaica’s work to deal with a debt crisis and its strong performance over the last two years in working with the IMF, the World Bank and others to address that,” Zuniga said.
In addition to the bilateral talks with Simpson Miller, President Obama is expected to have discussions with Heads of State and Government of Caricom on issues such as security and cooperation through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
Other activities planned for the visit include: a wreath laying at National Heroes Park, and a youth summit at the University of the West Indies.
President Obama and the Caricom Heads of State and Government will leave Jamaica for Panama City on April 9 to participate in the Sixth Summit of the Americas.
