Obama congratulates PM on election victory

United States President Barack Obama has called Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller to congratulate her on her recent electoral victory.

A release from the United States Embassy in Kingston says President Obama also commended the people of Jamaica for their dedication to democracy.

According to Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy, Yolonda Kerney, the leaders discussed their shared responsibility for enhancing citizen security and underscored the importance of economic growth in advancing the well-being of all Jamaicans.

President Obama also reportedly underscored the strong bonds of friendship between the American and Jamaican people, which includes the contributions of Jamaican-Americans.

The President is reported as saying he looks forward to working with the Prime Minister on bilateral and regional issues at the Summit of the Americas, which will occur in April 2012 in Cartagena, Colombia.

Yesterday, the new Foreign Affairs Minister Senator A.J Nicholson in an interview aired on RJR’s ‘That’s a Rap!’ said Jamaica’s relationship with the United States had been damaged by the Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke extradition issue.

Nicholson also said he would be working to repair the breach.

editorial@gleanerjm.com