President of the United States, Barack Obama, accepted Letters of Credence from her Excellency Audrey P. Marks, Jamaica's first female Ambassador to the U.S., at the White House on Monday, June 28, 2010. During this meeting, President Obama welcomed Ambassador Marks to Washington. He also expressed strong support for the Jamaican Government and people and for the continued development of the "strong and abiding" relationship that exists between the countries.Ambassador Marks, who assumed official duties on May 17, 2010, is Jamaica's tenth Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS).
"For the past 48 years, Jamaica and the United States have shared a long history of friendship, based on a mutual commitment to democracy, prosperity and security in the Caribbean region," said President Obama. "Our countries have enjoyed a fruitful and cooperative relationship across a broad range of issues, including trade, investment and energy security."
"The Government of Jamaica will continue to actively work with the Jamaican Diaspora to jointly stimulate greater growth in our economy, such as through the identification of opportunities for joint venture arrangements that will expand the quantity of foreign direct investment that originates from the United States," said Ambassador Marks. "Jamaica remains committed to deepening the bonds of friendship and the ties of cooperation that have united our peoples for so many years."
Ambassador Marks is the founder of Paymaster Jamaica, Ltd, and has served on several private sector boards including as deputy chairman of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC); chairman of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDC); director of the board of RBTT Securities Limited; and as a board member of the National Health Fund. Ambassador Marks also holds the distinction of being the first female president of the Jamaica American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM).
Source: Embassy of Jamaica
