OPM responds to critics about the size, role and cost of PM’s delegation

OPM responds to critics about the size, role and cost of PM’s delegation

Questions were raised about the size as well as cost of the entourage accompanying Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller on her trip to the United States.

The team includes Information Minister Sandrea Falconer, Tourism Minister Dr. Wykeham McNeil and Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell.

Special Advisors Delano Franklyn, Dr. Carlton Davis and Chairman of Clarendon Alumina Partners, Dr. Vin Lawrence.

The Women's Freedom Movement says given the financial challenges facing the Government the size of the Prime Minister's team is sending a bad signal.

In response the Office of the Prime Minister in a release stated that the impression given that the persons named in the Prime Minister’s delegation on a current visit to the United States of America all left the island together on Tuesday to return to the island on Sunday April 29 is mistaken.

The statement entitled Important business for Jamaica outlines the schedule and responsibilities of the delegation is presented below.

IMPORTANT BUSINESS FOR JAMAICA

The Prime Minister left the island on Tuesday along with the technical team of Dr Carlton Davis and Dr Vin Lawrence who will be participating in critical talks with the President and other senior executives of Alcoa on matters related to the bauxite/ alumina industry

They will be joined in those discussions on Wednesday by Energy minister, Phillip Paulwell, who, as the country is aware, was in Parliament on Tuesday.  

Minister Paulwell and Drs Davis and Lawrence will return to the island on Thursday.

Information minister, Senator Sandrea Falconer, left the island on Monday evening ahead of the Prime Minister to deal with the TIME Magazine function on Tuesday at which the Prime Minister, along with the other awardees, were being  honoured in the TIME’s 100 Most Influential Persons for 2012. Minister Falconer’s official engagement ends on Wednesday. 

Tourism minister, Wykeham McNeill, who was already in the USA on official tourism business at the invitation of potential investors and at no cost to the government, joined the Prime Minister’s delegation Tuesday to explore and engage the tourism opportunities which can flow from her receiving the prestigious TIME Magazine award.

This, being Minister McNeill’s first trip to this important destination, he will also be reviewing airlift and other matters, including advertising for the North-East USA market. He will return on the week-end.

Advisor Delano Franklyn will join the Prime Minister on Friday for an official reception which the State of Pennsylvania and the business community in Philadelphia are hosting for the Prime Minister.

On Saturday the Prime Minister will participate in a special Jamaica 50 Salute ceremony at the PENN Relays at which Jamaica’s outstanding performance in the relays over the years will be recognized.

The Prime Minister will return to the island on Sunday.