By Derrick Scott, Freelance WriterATLANTA:
PRIME MINISTER P. J. Patterson, is scheduled to pay a three-day visit to Atlanta, Georgia, starting next Monday, August 12.
The Prime Minister is visiting Atlanta on the invitation of Jamaica's Honorary Consul to that city, Mr. Vin Martin. One of the main purposes of the visit is to participate in activities in celebration of Jamaica's 40th anniversary of independence. The Prime Minister, who will arrive on Monday afternoon from New York, will be met on arrival at the Hartsfield International airport by Mr. Martin and former US ambassador to the UN, Andrew Young, among other officials.
The Prime Minister will participate in a number of engagements, chief among them being the official opening of a photographic exhibition celebrating the country's independence, "Jamaica 40 years - 1962-2002", which will take place at the Sun Trust Plaza on Tuesday, August 13 at 6 pm. The Prime Minister will deliver the keynote address.
Among other persons attending the exhibit will be former Ambassador Andrew Young, who will toast Jamaica; Jamaica's Honorary Consul, Mr. Vin Martin; CEO of DeKalb County, Vernon Jones, who will bring greetings; and President of the Atlanta Jamaica Association, Derrick Harvey.
The photo exhibit will give a visual historic highlight of major milestones in the 40-year development of independent Jamaica. These milestones include industrial development, the development of the financial sector, education, health, agriculture, science and technology, legislation and cultural growth in areas such as music, art, drama and dance, as well as changes in the social structure. The exhibition is being mounted by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS). It is expected that Atlanta's who's' who, and members of the Jamaican and Caribbean communities in Atlanta will attend. The exhibit is the main event to celebrate Jamaica's independence in Atlanta. The photo exhibit is hosted jointly by Jamaica's Honorary Consul and Goodworks International.
The Prime Minister and his team while in Atlanta will pay a courtesy call on Atlanta's mayor, Shirley Franklin, on Tuesday morning. Following that, the Prime Minister is scheduled to do an interview with CNN as well as a number of other media interviews.
Following the interviews, he will have meetings with the Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture, Mr. Tommy Irvin, and later that evening will be the guest speaker at a dinner to be hosted by JAMPRO (Jamaica Promotions Corporation). On Wednesday, he will tour the Georgia State University campus where the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies is located.
He will be accompanied by Ambassador Andrew Young on this tour and will be hosted by the Dean, Roy Bahl, who will update the Prime Minister on the recently executed student and faculty exchange programme between that school and the University of the West Indies.
At 11 am on Wednesday the World Trade Centre will host the PM at a VIP business lunch where he will address top business leaders. The luncheon is being co-hosted by The Center for Trade and Technology Transfer, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Department of Industry Trade and Tourism, the Southern Center for International Studies, and the US Export Assistance Center.
JAMPRO, Jamaica's agency that promotes foreign investment, will mount an exhibition at the business luncheon, which will give businesses insight into investing in Jamaica.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to depart Atlanta on Thursday, August 15.
