Opposition spokesperson on Foreign Affairs apologizes for blunder

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Oct. 5, CMC – The main opposition People’s National Party’s (PNP) spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Lisa Hanna has apologised for a blunder which resulted in her expressing condolences for the death of St Lucia’s Ambassador to the Organisation of American States (OAS) Anton Edmunds.
Hanna, in a release on Wednesday, expressed regret at the unfortunate demise of the St Lucian diplomat, whom she claimed, was a victim of the Las Vegas mass shooting on Sunday.
However, it was later revealed that the information was false.
As a result, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kamina Johnson Smith, issued a statement urging Hanna to exercise restrain and sensitivity when dealing with diplomatic issues.
Johnson Smith said Edmunds had corrected the false report on Tuesday, and said St Lucia’s Foreign Minister Sarah Flood Beaubrun confirmed that “their ambassador is alive and well”.
The Foreign Affairs minister underscored the need for Hanna to exercise “caution and sensitivity in pronouncing on such matters, and indeed on matters generally associated with Jamaica’s foreign policy and relations”.
Johnson Smith extended her regrets to the people and Government of St Lucia for any distress caused by the statement attributed to the Opposition spokesperson.
Hanna, who was recently appointed the spokesman on foreign affairs, said the release with unverified information was inadvertently sent from her office.
Meanwhile, Young Jamaica – the youth arm of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), described  comments made by Hanna as reckless and unfortunate.
According to Young Jamaica Hanna is out of her depth in the new portfolio and embarrassed Jamaica because of her utterances.
The group said Hanna was insensitive to not only the family of Ambassador Edmunds but the families of the 59 persons killed and the over 500 injuries in the attack.