[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 57 (Thursday, March 31, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E333-E334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN RECOGNITION OF JAMAICA'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 31, 2022

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise in 
recognition of sixty years of independence of the nation of Jamaica, 
and over sixty years of cooperative and friendly relations between 
Jamaica and the United States.
  The United States was among the first countries to recognize 
Jamaica's independence in 1962 and has enjoyed strong diplomatic and 
cultural ties with the stalwart island nation since. This diplomatic 
support has expressed itself through the work of organizations like 
USAID and direct commercial links between our nations for six decades. 
And in the last year alone, the United States has demonstrated its 
strong support for Jamaica through its fight against COVID-19. The 
United States has sent hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 vaccines to 
Jamaica to combat the pandemic, and as of December 2021 we have shipped 
over 400,000 vaccines to the island. But the effects of this crisis 
expand beyond public health; Jamaica has relied heavily on tourism for 
its economic successes, and the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation 
extraordinarily hard.
  To help alleviate those pains, Vice President Harris met Prime 
Minister Andrew Holness at the White House this week. There she 
announced $30 million in economic assistance to further augment 
Jamaica's economic recovery from the pandemic, including investments in 
human capital and violence reduction. These essential investments were 
capped by the announcement of even more investments to help Jamaica 
survive a rapidly changing Caribbean climate, as evidenced by the ever-
stronger storm systems and hurricanes that ravage the region every 
year.
  The United States and Jamaica also cooperate proactively on Caribbean 
security. Under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, the United 
States provides Jamaica with support in tackling trafficking, including 
training, equipment, and technical assistance on maritime security 
procedures and more. Our cooperative efforts help to counter public 
corruption and enhances the Jamaican justice system's efforts to fight 
crime across the country.
  But good relations between our nations goes beyond diplomatic ties, 
as Jamaicans have emigrated in droves over the decades to the United 
States. In New York City we are able to enjoy such cultural staples 
such as Jamaican jerk chicken and ox tails, live Reggae music and more 
as a result of our neighbor's cultural heritage. Even the highest 
levels of government enjoy cultural links to Jamaica, where the father 
of our Vice President was born.
  Congratulations to Jamaica for six decades of independent governance, 
and for being such a longstanding and firm partner of the United 
States.

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