• Hon. Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Mining and Energy
• Hon. Carlton Davis, Cabinet Secretary and Chairman, Jamaica Bauxite Institute
• Hon. Vincent Lawrence, Chairman, Bauxite & Aluminia Trading Company of Jamaica
• Hon. Richard Bernal, Ambassador of Jamaica to the U.S.

Wednesday, August 29, 2001

12:00 Noon
(11:30 a.m. networking reception)

The Windsor Court Hotel
300 Gravier St.

(Free validated parking in the WTC Garage)

The Rt. Hon. Percival James Patterson is the first Prime Minister of Jamaica to have the honor of serving in this capacity for nine unbroken years.

Prime Minister Patterson, who is also a Member of Parliament of Eastern Westmoreland, was first appointed to this office in March 1992, following his election as President of the People’s National Party (PNP) on the retirement of the former Prime Minister, the late Hon. Michael Manley.

Mr. Patterson was returned to office following the general election of 1993 and today has the distinction of being the first Prime Minister of Jamaica to be sworn in for a third consecutive term of office, after he led the PNP to victory in the general elections of 1997.

Mr. Patterson’s political career began in 1958 when he joined the PNP. Since that time he has served in several positions – Party Organizer (1958), member of the PNP’s National and Executive Councils, Party Chairman, and President since 1992.

The Prime Minister’s distinguished career in the Cabinet began in 1972 when he was appointed Minister of Tourism. Other Cabinet positions over the years have included Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign

Trade (1978-1980); Minister of Planning and Production (1989-1990); and Minister of Finance and Planning (1990-1991). Mr. Patterson was also Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1978 to 1980 and again from 1989 to 1991.

During his tenure as Prime Minister some of his principal achievements include:

• Expansion of information technology training opportunities to meet the growing demand for skilled workers in this area and, in particular, the 40,000 jobs that are to be created by 2002.
• The cessation of an 18-year borrowing relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which created a platform for Jamaica to exert greater control over its economic affairs.
• Sound macro-economic policies which have resulted in the lowest levels of continuous inflation ever, and record levels of Net International Reserves.
• Improved access to housing solutions through the National Housing Trust and Operation Pride for low-income earners, senior citizens, and the physically challenged.
• Increased employment opportunities for young people through the National Youth Service (NYS), Lift Up Jamaica and more recently, JAMVATCORPS.
• Mr. Patterson has also used his skills and aptitude as an attorney-at-law to successfully negotiate for Jamaica, the Caribbean and the developing countries of Africa and the Pacific.

In 1992, he was appointed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and in that same year he received the Order of Liberator Simon Bolivar First Class, the highest honor awarded to a foreign official by the government of Venezuela.

Co-Sponsoring Organizations

Jamaican Sunset, CLE, Ltd.

Louis Armstrong International Airport

Louisiana Department of Economic Development

New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center

World Trade Center of New Orleans

In Cooperation With

New Orleans Air Cargo Association

Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs

Consular Corps of New Orleans

Foreign Relations Association of New Orleans

International Trade Council/Red River Region

Louisiana District Export Council

Louisiana International Trade Center/SBDC

Louisiana International Trade Commission

Louisiana Technology Council

United Nations Association of Greater New Orleans

World Trade Club of Greater New Orleans

Click map to enlarge.
Windsor Court Hotel
300 Gravier Street
New Orleans

 

Advance registration required by August 28, 10:00 a.m. 
Registration Fee: $35.  If you are a WTC member, the registration fee can be charged to your account number noted on the registration form.