Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Wednesday afternoon met with U.S Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House. He says Harris has committed funding to several areas such as the expansion of commerce, trade, and support for Jamaica’s health sector and its COVID-19 recovery efforts.

Prior to his meeting with the V.P, he told an international television station that his visit is to reaffirm the relationship between Jamaica and the United States of America. Security concerns such as the importation of illegal weapons are high on the agenda. During a Wednesday morning interview on Great Day Washington, he divulged plans to address the inflow of illegal weapons into Jamaica and other issues such as lottery scamming and maintains that Jamaica has a very important place in the world, undoubtedly in terms of its assertiveness against oppression. He says discussions were very productive as they were able to affirm a shared commitment to increase cooperation for the mutual benefit of Jamaica and the United States.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness reaffirms that the country will be cutting ties with the monarchy. A Miami Herald report says Vice President Kamala Harris will host Prime Minister Holness as part of an effort to improve America’s relationship with Caribbean nations. It is understood he’s the second Caribbean leader to visit Harris in Washington and will be the first Jamaican leader to visit the White House since the 1995 working visit by former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.

The Prime Minister is expected to return to the island on April 3. More details in this report: