Jamlanta.org

ATLANTA – Atlanta’s Mayor Keisha Bottoms and Montego Bay’s Mayor Homer Davis are pledging to make the forty six year-old sister cities relationship between both municipalities even stronger.

Culture, education, and the development of professional and technical expertise are specific areas the Atlanta Mayor identified for enhanced collaboration, saying that under her administration, “the strengthening of the relationship between both cities will be a priority.  This relationship will not only be in words but in action.”

The commitment was delivered on Monday, October 1, 2018 when Mayor Davis paid an official visit to Mayor Bottoms, at City Hall in Atlanta, Georgia.

Montego Bay’s Mayor Homer Davis presents Atlanta’s Mayor Keisha Bottoms with a Jamaican souvenir, after both mayors held talks on Monday, October 1, 2018 at Atlanta City Hall in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo Derrick Scott)

Ms. Bottoms pointed out that the sister cities relationship, which was forged on September 18, 1972, was very important to both cities.  She acknowledged that despite the significant role that the  Vin Martin Memorial Health Mission had played over the past 24 years – by providing over US$6 million and attending to over 50,000 patients – “the relationship can accomplish more.”

In welcoming the Jamaican mayor and his delegation, Mayor Bottoms pointed to several characteristics both cities shared, including “our reputation for warm hospitality to visitors, valuing of tourism as a major industry, and having a substantial black population.”

The Montego Bay mayor, for his part, welcomed the opportunity for an even stronger sister city relationship with Atlanta.  “Under my administration, we have made the decision to re-energize this important relationship so that it is meaningful to both cities.”

Mayor Davis said that he was reassured by Mayor Bottom’s commitment and support for adoption of best practices that will mutually benefit both cities. Mayor Davis also invited Mayor Bottoms to be the guest of honor at his upcoming Mayor’s gala, scheduled for December 1^st, at the Montego Bay Convention Center.  “This is an opportunity to have you pay a visit to our city as we commence the strengthening of our relationship.”

Meanwhile, a delegation from the Atlanta Public Works and Solid Waste Administration, the Planning and Community Development and Parks and Recreation will visit Montego Bay to hold talks with the Mayor and officials from the St. James Municipal Council on diverse topics to benefit development for both cities.

Mayor Davis and his three-man delegation paid an official four-day visit to Atlanta September 29 to October 1.  The delegation included chairman of the Atlanta Montego Bay Sister Cities Committee, Fred Smith; Councilor Dwight Crawford; and Sister City board member Jasmin Tomlinson-Brown.  The delegation was accompanied by the chairman of the Atlanta Sister City Committee, Dr. Yvonne Smith.