Jamaica hosts first Caribbean staging of OPANAL nuclear disarmament course

  KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica is hosting the 15th edition of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) Course on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation from October 7 to 9, marking the first time the programme is being held in the Caribbean. The three-day course, organised by the Government of Jamaica in collaboration with OPANAL, is being hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. According to a release, the programme was officially opened with remarks from Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, and a video message from OPANAL Secretary-General, Ambassador Juan Carlos Ojeda Viglione. The initiative underscores Jamaica’s commitment to advancing nuclear disarmament education, strengthening regional cooperation and increasing the participation of Caribbean countries in international discussions on nuclear non-proliferation. It also provides a platform for diplomats, government officials and other professionals to deepen their understanding of nuclear disarmament issues while exchanging knowledge and experiences. Throughout the course, participants will examine the Treaty of Tlatelolco, which established Latin America and the Caribbean as a nuclear-weapon-free zone, alongside key aspects of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation framework. Discussions will also explore the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the importance of gender and youth participation in global disarmament efforts. The programme features contributions from Jamaican experts representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS) and the Earthquake Unit at the University of the West Indies. Specialised sessions will also be delivered by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). As part of the programme, participants will visit ICENS to gain first-hand insight into how nuclear science and technology are being used for peaceful purposes in Jamaica. The course forms part of OPANAL’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the technical knowledge and capacity of professionals across its member states, particularly in matters relating to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. In hosting the event, Jamaica and OPANAL have reaffirmed their commitment to the full implementation of the Treaty of Tlatelolco and to promoting greater regional collaboration in nuclear disarmament education. The Kingston staging is also expected to strengthen cooperation between Jamaica and OPANAL while supporting broader international efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.