Ambassador Sharon Day Sharon Day was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica on September 25. She serves as Ambassador after having worked for more than 20 years for the Republican Party at the local, state, and national level, and most recently in leadership roles as Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and RNC Secretary. Earlier in her career, she built several businesses in the insurance and marketing industries, creating jobs for hundreds of individuals and families. Drawing from her private-sector experience, Ambassador Day worked in the political arena to promote and strengthen small businesses and the free market system. She also championed women’s rights as a Commissioner on the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. Ambassador Day was born and raised in Texas and has called Ft. Lauderdale, Florida home for the last 25 years. She has two sons and five grandchildren who are a great source of pride. Chargé d’ Affaires Eric Khant Eric Khant assumed duties as Chargé d’ Affaires to U.S. Embassy Kingston, upon Ambassador Luis G. Moreno’s departure on June 30, 2017. He served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy since August 2, 2016. Prior to Kingston, Eric Khant served as Management Counselor at the U.S. Embassies in Madrid, Spain; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Santiago, Chile and as Supervisory Regional Human Resources Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. His other overseas assignments include Morocco, Russia, Cambodia, and France. Eric Khant also served in Washington as an Assignments Officer for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Eric Khant is a resident of Florida and married to Halima Khant. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Management and a Master’s Degree in National Security Strategy. Chargé d’Affaires – John S. Creamer A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister- Counselor, John Creamer assumed duties as Chargé d’Affaires at U.S. Embassy Mexico City on July 16, 2018. Previously, he served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Cuba, Mexico, Central America, and Western Hemisphere Regional Economic Policy and Summit issues. Mr. Creamer is a career Foreign Service Officer with over 30 years of experience. His overseas tours include service in Nicaragua, South Africa, Haiti, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, and Bolivia. Mr. Creamer has also served in Washington, DC, as Senior Desk Officer for Brazil, South Africa, and Colombia, Deputy Director of the Office of Andean Affairs, and Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs. Mr. Creamer served as Civilian Deputy to the Commander and Foreign Policy Advisor, U.S. Southern Command, Miami, FL. Mr. Creamer has been awarded the State Department’s Superior Honor Award four times as well as numerous Group awards. Before joining the Department of State in 1986, Mr. Creamer received a Bachelor’s degree in Government from Georgetown University, as well as a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. He also holds a Masters in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University. In 1985, Mr. Creamer received a Fulbright Scholarship to Malaysia. He speaks Spanish and Portuguese. Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Roxanne Cabral Roxanne Cabral assumed duties as Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at U.S. Embassy Panama in March, 2018, and she arrived in Panama as Deputy Chief of Mission in August 2017. She has over twenty years of experience as a U.S. Diplomat with several high impact assignments in Washington and abroad. Her most recent assignment was as the Director of the Office of Policy, Planning and Resources for the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs from 2015-2017, where she led the development of public diplomacy policy and management of global PD resources to advance key national security objectives. She held the 2013-14 Department of State Senior Fellowship at the Washington, D.C.-based think-tank The Atlantic Council, during which she co-authored a white paper entitled “Diplomacy for a Diffuse World.” Her last overseas assignment was as the Public Affairs Section Chief at the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou, China from 2010-2013. Previous overseas assignments include Taiwan, Albania, Mexico City, and Ukraine. She also served as the public diplomacy advisor in the Department of State’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs focusing on Balkans issues from 2006-2008. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University. She is married to fellow diplomat, David Schroeder, and has three boys, Quinn, Roman, and Evan. United States Department of State U.S.-COSTA RICA RELATIONS The United States established diplomatic relations with Costa Rica in 1851, following its independence from Spain and the later dissolution of a federation of Central American states. The United States and Costa Rica have a history of close and friendly relations based on mutual respect for democratic freedoms, free trade, and other shared values. Costa Rica’s own history and record on the environment, human rights, and advocacy for the peaceful settlement of disputes give it a weight in world affairs far beyond its size, and Costa Rica and the United States often share similar positions (votes) in international fora. The United States and Costa Rica enjoy robust bilateral law enforcement and security cooperation, and have signed a maritime cooperation agreement that facilitates narcotics seizures, illegal migrant rescues, illegal fishing seizures, and search-and-rescue missions. The United States and Costa Rica share a strong commitment to working to promote climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as preserving Costa Rica’s important and rich biological diversity. The U.S. and Costa Rican governments, the Central Bank of Costa Rica, and The Nature Conservancy have concluded agreements that provide funding for the conservation, restoration, and protection of tropical forests. It is estimated that approximately 120,000 private American citizens, including many retirees, reside in the country and more than a million American citizens visit Costa Rica annually. U.S. Assistance to Costa Rica The U.S. Strategy for Central America (Strategy) guides U.S. diplomatic efforts and foreign assistance in the region. The Strategy is a bipartisan, multi-year U.S. government plan covering all seven Central American countries (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama). The Strategy aims to secure U.S. borders and protect American citizens by addressing the security, governance, and economic drivers of illegal immigration and transnational crime, while increasing opportunities for U.S. and other businesses. The Strategy focuses on three overarching lines of action: 1) promoting prosperity, 2) enhancing security, and 3) improving governance. The United States is working hand-in-hand with a wide range of Costa Rican government agencies and non-governmental organizations to secure Costa Rica’s borders, professionalize its police, strengthen its judicial sector, improve its corrections system, and empower at-risk youth. Peace Corps volunteers work in economic development, education, and youth empowerment programs, and U. S. Embassy programs promote entrepreneurship, economic inclusion, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Bilateral Economic Relations The United States and Costa Rica are parties to the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which aims to facilitate trade and investment and further regional integration by eliminating tariffs, opening markets, reducing barriers to services, and promoting transparency. CAFTA-DR contains a chapter on investment similar to a bilateral investment treaty with the United States. The United States is Costa Rica’s largest trading partner, accounting for about 40 percent of Costa Rica’s exports, imports, tourism, and foreign direct investment. U.S. exports to Costa Rica include automotive parts and supplies, renewable energy, franchises, hotel and restaurant equipment, healthcare products, and construction equipment. U.S. imports from Costa Rica include medical devices, pineapples, bananas, and coffee. Costa Rica’s Membership in International Organizations Costa Rica and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Organization of American States, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Bilateral Representation Principal U.S. embassy officials are listed in the Department’s Key Officers List. Costa Rica maintains an embassy in the United States at 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-480-2200). United States Department of State U.S.-JAMAICA RELATIONS The United States established diplomatic relations with Jamaica in 1962 following its independence from the United Kingdom. The United States and Jamaica maintain strong and productive relations, based on trust and mutual interest. This close friendship is built on a foundation of people-to-people ties and a vibrant Jamaican-American community. The United States and Jamaica foster prosperity and stability for both countries within the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI). Bilateral Economic Relations The United States is Jamaica’s most important trading partner. An important destination for U.S. investment, Jamaica has generally been a supportive partner in efforts – bilaterally, regionally, and globally – to liberalize trade. Under the