Slater: UK-Jamaica partnership ‘closer than ever’ in security, education
Published:Tuesday | September 2, 2025 | 12:09 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Outgoing British High Commissioner Judith Slater says Jamaica and the United Kingdom (UK) now enjoy their closest partnership in decades, strengthened by cooperation on crime, education and governance, and anchored by relationships of trust that can withstand difficult challenges.
During her four years in Kingston, Slater oversaw deepening collaboration in national security.
The UK has provided funding and technical assistance to Jamaica’s young oversight and anti-corruption agencies, including the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), the Integrity Commission and the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM).
On the defence side, she described “very close military-to-military cooperation”, pointing to joint training exercises and the leadership of Jamaica Defence Force Chief of Defence Staff Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman.
“Until very recently, she was the only serving female CDS in the world, a force of nature, and Jamaica should be very proud,” Slater said.
Joint operations such as Exercise Red Stripe brought British troops to Jamaica for jungle training, while Jamaican officers travelled to the UK for advanced courses. The Caribbean Military Academy, supported by the UK, now attracts officer cadets from across the region, bolstering Jamaica’s reputation as a leader in defence education. The cooperation also extends to tackling transnational crime, with British and Jamaican agencies working side by side on counter-narcotics, human trafficking and organised crime.
“Crime doesn’t recognise borders,” Slater said. “The more joining up, the merrier, especially with challenges like Haiti affecting the region.”
Security, however, is not only about law enforcement, she stressed. The UK has worked with Jamaica’s Ministry of National Security and Ministry of Education on violence prevention programmes that address the roots of crime. A major focus has been literacy initiatives in challenged schools, giving children better opportunities and steering them away from gangs.
“If kids are literate, they have more choices in life, and they are less likely to be drawn into crime,” Slater said.
Scholarships and cultural exchanges
Education has remained central to the relationship through scholarships and cultural exchanges. This year, 17 Jamaicans, the largest cohort in the Caribbean, will depart for postgraduate study under the Chevening programme.
“It’s partly because the calibre of the people we get is so high,” Slater explained. “We even had some on a reserve list, but because the quality was outstanding, they were also awarded scholarships.”
She also highlighted the impact of Commonwealth scholarships, which have supported many prominent Jamaicans, including Opposition Leader Mark Golding, Constitutional Affairs Minister Marlene Malahoo Forte, and Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton. Meanwhile, the British Council has worked with Jamaica’s government to promote STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education as a key driver for 21st-century employment.
Beyond programmes and projects, Slater said her greatest achievement was building what she called “load-bearing relationships” across Jamaica’s political and civic landscape.
“In other words, if something difficult comes along, you have the trust and mutual respect to deal with challenges when they arise,” she explained.
She described Jamaica’s senior political leadership as “very high quality”, noting strong relationships with both the Government and Opposition. While she acknowledged capacity challenges further down the system, she said Jamaica’s democratic institutions remain robust.
“The number of countries with genuine democracies is diminishing around the world. Jamaica is definitely one that remains robust,” she said, looking ahead to the upcoming general election.
“It’s really something to celebrate.”
As she prepares to return to London, Slater will continue to engage with the Caribbean through the UK–Caribbean Ministerial Forum later this year. She said the work in security, education and governance would remain central to Britain’s role in the region.
“From crime-fighting to scholarships, the relationship has gone further, deeper and wider,” she reflected. “It’s closer than ever.”