ATLANTA-MONTEGO BAY SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE
BACKGROUND
The Atlanta-Montego Bay Sister Cities Committee (the “Committee”) is a member of-an international organization with a branch in Atlanta, Georgia, and another in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The Atlanta branch is one of eighteen such Sister Cities that fall under the umbrella of the Atlanta Sister Cities Commission (the “ASCC”). The ASCC was chartered by the City of Atlanta (city Ordinance NO. 1979-71). In turn the ASCC is affiliated with Sister Cities International, the international organization which controls sister cities relationships worldwide and whose honorary chair is the President of the United States.
The relationship between Atlanta and Montego Bay was established in 1972, thus making it the oldest organization in Atlanta with ties to Jamaica. It is the second longest relationship that exists between Atlanta and its eighteen sister cities.
Both the Atlanta and Montego Bay branches utilize the same organizational structure. The Committee is run by a Chairperson and has several sub-committees each of which is headed by a sub-committee chair.
The sub-committees are as follows:
- Cultural Affairs
- Education
- Fund-raising
- Health and Human Services
- Public Relations
- Technology Transfer
- Tourism
- Trade and Industry
The goals of the respective sub-committees are as follows:
CULTURAL AFFAIRS
To identify areas of mutual cultural interest between Atlanta and Montego Bay.
EDUCATION
To expose High school students of both cities to the respective educational systems of each City.
To act as a liaison and facilitate the application of Montego Bay High School students in seeking access and admission to Atlanta’s institutions of higher learning.
FUND RAISING
To raise funds for the promotion of the affairs of the Committees.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
To expand the base of support for health programs directed to the under-served residents of Atlanta and Montego Bay, by bringing to the attention of health policy members, the varied and urgent needs of this population.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
To promote and/or facilitate the use of technologies to establish and expand mutually beneficial business ties between Atlanta and Montego Bay.
TOURISM
To promote and encourage visitors to select Montego Bay as their location of choice while vacationing in Jamaica.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
To identify economic opportunities for investment by private sector companies and individuals in each City.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The Committee has many noteworthy accomplishments since its revitalization in 1993. Principal among them is the annual health mission to Montego Bay for which it received an award from Sister Cities International in 2001. Over the past 13 years, the Health and Human Services Committee has provided care to approximately 33,000 under-served residents of Montego Bay and have donated an estimated JA$30 million in medicine and supplies to the patients. The Committee also assists AIDS patients in Montego Bay in obtaining their monthly medicines. The Committee provides annual Christmas treat to the Montego Bay chapter of the Jamaica AIDS support, the Women’s Crisis Center in Montego Bay and the patients in the Psychiatric ward at Cornwall Regional Hospital. Additionally, the Technology Transfer Committee has provided computer equipment and supplies to Montego Bay High School, and the Education Committee participates in an annual educational exchanges between North Atlanta and Montego Bay High School students.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Much of the success of our medical missions is owed to our partnership with Air Jamaica which has transported our medicine and supplies free of charge to Jamaica. Thanks are also due to the many pharmaceutical companies for the annual donation of medicine and other supplies to our Committee. We are thankful to the many volunteer doctors, nurses and others for their commitment to our medical mission. However, without the financial assistance of the Atlanta community, our task would be more difficult. Thanks for your continued support.
