Simpson Miller to rescue Ja's image

By Derrick Scott, Freelance Writer

Simpson Miller

Atlanta

A TEAM of senior Jamaican tourism officials, headed by Minister of Tourism, Portia Simpson Miller, arrived in Atlanta last week for a four day visit.

The Minister was greeted by Vin Martin, Jamaica's Honorary Consul; President of the Jamaica Association, Derrick Harvey; Air Jamaica Area Manager, John Oliphant; and Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Atlanta Area Manager, Frank Bronstorph.

The team's visit forms part of the activities which began on Sunday, July 29 to mark Jamaica's 39th Independence, but Mrs. Simpson Miller is also expected to use the opportunity to garner support for Jamaica's tourism industry against the background of recent civil unrest in the country.

The Minister, who is visiting the city for the first time in her capacity as Minister of Tourism, is accompanied by JTB Director-General, Carol Guntley-Brady; Director of Tourism, Faye Pickersgill; Deputy Directors Charles Handel of the Miami office and Noel Mignot of the New York office. The Minister and other JTB officials are expected to use the opportunity to erase some of the negative publicity that the tourism industry has been receiving as a result of the recent unrest in Western Kingston.

While in Atlanta, the Minister will hold a breakfast meeting with the tourism liaison committee and deliver the keynote address at the Jamaica-Atlanta Association Independence Ball.

The Minister was also scheduled to attend a service at the Holy Cross Church and attend a reception being hosted in her honour by the Jamaica-Atlanta Association. She was also scheduled to address a Jamaican-American business group at a dinner hosted by the JTB. Yesterday Mrs Simpson Miller was scheduled to meet with Atlanta-based Jamaican wholesalers, followed by a travel trade luncheon.

She will also meet with the Jamaican community in Atlanta at a townhall meeting at the Holy Cross Church. The meeting is to be hosted jointly by the Jamaica-Atlanta Association and the JTB. The Minister and her team return today.

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