What a diplomatic mess!

For the past several months rumors have been circulating regarding changes in postings of Jamaican diplomats One rumor suggested Jamaican Ambassador to the US Audrey Marks would be recalled to Jamaica to replace the incumbent Minister of Foreign

Affairs Another rumor was Jamaican Consul General to the Southern United States Oliver Mair was to be recalled this year when his current term ends. But, a viral media report out of Jamaica earlier this week throws a different light as to the possible reason behind these rumors

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According to the report, earlier this year the US government wrote to the Jamaican government seeking its approval for the married same sex partner of a US diplomat, who is to be posted in Jamaica, to be given diplomatic immunity and all the privileges of a diplomat It seemed the Jamaican government procrastinated in its response, so the US government sent another diplomatic note demanding a response The Jamaican government then responded rejecting the request, ostensibly because same sex marriage is considered illegal in accordance with Jamaica’s laws and policy To approve the US request to grant the diplomat’s same sex partner diplomatic immunity would have been tantamount to the Jamaican government going against the nation’s stance on same sex marriage

According to the reports, the US government responded by rejecting a request from the Jamaican government to extend diplomatic privileges that approved the stay in America of three Jamaican diplomats, including Marks and Mair

This report has created a strong reaction among Jamaicans at home and in the diaspora Many people are of the opinion that the US government is acting in a bully fashion, without any respect for the laws of Jamaica, a sovereign nation

True, Jamaica is a sovereign nation with its own laws, which should be respected in the international community, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States The US and Jamaica have been very close diplomatic partners ever since Jamaica gained independ- ence in 1962 Surely, the US government must be aware of Jamaica’s buggery laws, and the Jamaican government’s policy towards same sex marriage With the US government knowing this policy, why did it make a diplomatic push for posting a same sex couple in Jamaica? Didn’t they expect pushback from the Jamaican government, or did they think the Jamaican government would give in to the diplomatic power yielded by the US?

As some Jamaicans are asking in several social media posts, would the US have posted a diplomat with a same sex partner in Saudi Arabia or another Arab country where same sex marriages are fundamentally illegal?

It is the strong opinion that by posting this diplomat to Jamaica, and taking it for granted the Jamaican government would approve the request for giving his same sex partner diplomatic immunity is a total disrespect of the Jamaican government, Jamaican people, and Jamaican laws

There’s a legal opinion that since the marriage of the US diplomat took place in the US, full faith and credit should be given to that marriage Legally, it is argued since the marriage was legal in the US it should therefore be accepted internationally But it’s still debatable if, although the marriage was legally accepted in the US, it should be accepted in Jamaica where same sex marriage is considered illegal

No doubt, this is a major diplomatic mess, and a mess, now that it’s exposed, that places tremendous pressure on the Jamaican govern- ment Some people believe this is deja vu for the Jamaican government as it is some way reminiscent of the circumstances surrounding the Christopher “Dudus” Coke extradition affair back in 2010, which eventually led to the premature resignation of then Prime Minister Bruce

Golding

In the Coke extradition situation, the then government dithered and dithered in taking a firm decision to extradite Coke Many people believe if the government had acted more quickly and firmly, much of the ensuing chaos would have been avoided

In the current diplomatic crisis, some people also believe the Jamaican government shouldn’t have procrastinated in denying the US request to grant diplomatic immunity to the same sex partner of the diplomat What was the reason for the Jamaican government’s procrastination?

It wouldn’t be surprising if the government was weighing its diplomatic options with the US carefully Jamaica hasn’t got the financial nor military assets to act like a political David against the mighty US Goliath That’s a stark, blatant fact But, nonetheless, Jamaica cannot afford to compromise its laws and policies to hypocritically give into the USA whenever it comes making demands

It is unclear how this diplomatic mess will be resolved It will take the best diplomatic maneuvering of the Jamaican government to resolve this matter, retain the respect of the US government, and the countries’ positive diplomatic relationship