Jamaica’s response to all future pandemics will be determined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the government has indicated it will accept the 2024 amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR).
The international health organisation had set a July 19, 2025 deadline for nations to indicate any objection to the amendments, which were quietly pushed through at the World Health Assembly in June 2024 without any votes and very little transparency.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) has informed Freedom Come Rain that Jamaica had made a reservation in relation to the amended regulations, but it has no intention of formally rejecting the amendments by the July 19th deadline.
Since Jamaica has not rejected the amendments in writing, the regulations will become legally binding for the country and enforceable by September 19, 2025.
The situation has infuriated citizens across the globe and here in Jamaica. Medical practitioner and president for Doctors for Life Dr. Doreen Brady-West is among those alarmed by the government’s reluctance to protect its citizens against the WHO power grab.
“A lot of noise was being made about the [Pandemic] Treaty, but this is as bad as the Treaty, because it’s everything people didn’t like in the treaty with regard to these pandemic issues coming in through the back door in the form of the health regulations,” she said.
Jamaica was one of 11 countries that abstained during a vote to adopt the WHO Pandemic Treaty in May this year, following pressure from local lobby groups, including the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society (JCHS). Jamaica’s reserved position for the 2024 amendments to the IHR (2005) could mean that the country is not in full agreement with the new terms included. However, Freedom Come Rain was not provided with details on the reason for the decision not to file any objection.
Several groups have objected to the latest version of the IHR and have been sending out petitions inviting persons to encourage their governments to formally reject the 2024 amendments. Up to July 16, more that 270,000 citizens had signed a petition on CitizenGO for governments to withdraw from the IHR. The advocacy group noted that once enforced, WHO has been given the power to declare global health emergencies without proof or consent, enforce lockdowns, vaccines, surveillance, and censorship. It also gives the global health body the ability to override a country’s laws and personal freedoms.
The health ministry was asked about efforts to consult with citizens and provide details on what the 2024 amendments would mean for them. However, the MOHW pointed to the fact that multiple stakeholders from different ministries, departments, and agencies were consulted. These include: the Attorney General Chambers, the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, among others.