By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Jamaican High Commissioner accredited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Cameroon and Senegal, Esmond St. C. Reid on 19th July, 2021 engaged Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt at the Ministry’s head office in Freetown. During the engagement, he recommended the establishment of a joint commission for the two countries.
The High Commissioner, who is in Sierra Leone for the first time, applauded the government of Sierra Leone in their handling of the Corona Virus. He said Tourism is at the heart of what Jamaica has been doing for many years and is the primary foreign exchange earner for Jamaica. He mentioned that they want to extend the scope of their Tourism operations to particularly countries in Africa because that is where their blood line lies.
He maintained that the relationship between the two countries is strong, as there were a number of Maroons sent from Jamaica to Sierra Leone, which he said has a link to the Maroon Church in Sierra Leone, adding that there is room for cultural tourism as a direct area for cooperation. He said they are also looking at having a direct flight from Jamaica to Sierra Leone as they did for Nigeria.
In her address, Minister Pratt welcomed the High Commissioner to the Home of Hospitality, saying that the High Commissioner’s visit is an awesome opportunity for the Ministry as there is already a deep relationship between the two countries that goes far back for decades. She acknowledged that there have not been very strong cultural roots and Tourism exchange that can keep the memories of the two countries alive, but assured that they would revive those cultural connections.
Minister Pratt noted that the Rastafarian culture is very embedded in Sierra Leone, and they need to look at it in terms of exchanges because they are representing a culture despite the way people may look at them. She maintained that Sierra Leone has all what it takes for its tourism to blossom and they are looking forward to starting a cultural relationship with Jamaica.
The High Commissioner fully endorsed all that was said by the Minister and recommended for the establishment of a joint commission between the two countries.
The Minister presented the Ministry’s souvenirs, magazines and travel guides to the Ambassador in appreciation of his visit to the Ministry.
