Prime Minister Andrew Holness is leading a confident Jamaican team heading to the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which takes place from June 20-25 here under the theme ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’.

Up to press time on Sunday there was no official confirmation of the members of the Jamaican delegation to be led by Holness, with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith — who is bidding to become the first Jamaican to head the Commonwealth Secretariat — the only confirmed member of the team.

On Sunday Jamaican Government officials refused to comment publicly on the number of votes they have been promised for Johnson Smith who is trying to oust Baroness Patricia Scotland as the head of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Instead, people close to the Holness Administration pointed to the seven Commonwealth leaders, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who have publicly thrown their support behind Johnson Smith.

But  sources in Kigali claimed that the Jamaican team was heading to the African State confident of victory.

The sources also rejected claimed that African countries could derail Johnson Smith’s bid.

“The African countries know that Mrs Johnson Smith is fully capable and ready to address their concerns and those of most other countries,” said one Government source on the margins of the first day of the Commonwealth Youth Forum.

“Kamina has the right management skills and experience, and Africa will be happy to take over a better Commonwealth when she leaves in 2026,” added the source.