Jaishankar Meets Jamaican PM Holness, Hands Over ‘BHISHM Cubes’ to Boost Disaster Preparedness
New Delhi: Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar on Monday met Andrew Holness in Kingston to explore ways to deepen political, economic and people-to-people cooperation between India and Jamaica.
During the meeting, Jaishankar conveyed greetings from Narendra Modi and said the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties across key sectors. Sharing details on X, the minister said he valued Holness’s commitment to further enhancing India–Jamaica relations.
As a gesture of support, Jaishankar handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes mobile hospital units designed for rapid deployment during disasters and emergencies. The handover took place in the presence of Health Minister Christopher Tufton and Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith.
Describing the initiative, Jaishankar said the BHISHM Cube system would aid Jamaica in disaster preparedness and emergency response, calling it “a statement of friendship” and an example of innovation-driven cooperation.
The visit is part of Jaishankar’s nine-day tour of the Caribbean, which includes stops in Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at strengthening India’s strategic and cultural engagement with the region.
Earlier, the minister interacted with the Indian diaspora, highlighting India’s progress in infrastructure, human development and technology-led governance.
Marking the shared cricketing heritage between the two nations, India also gifted a new scoreboard to Kingston’s Sabina Park stadium. Jaishankar said the “cricket bond” remains a vital cultural link and expressed hope that the scoreboard would witness memorable innings symbolising enduring friendship.
Jamaican cricket legends such as Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding were also mentioned as part of the long-standing sporting connection that continues to resonate strongly with Indian fans.
(DD News)
