Regional and Int’l Heads for Historic Swearing in Ceremony

An impressive list of international dignitaries, to include a number of heads of government from the region, have already confirmed their attendance at the historic inauguration ceremony of Portia Simpson Miller as Jamaica’s first female Prime Minister, to be held on Thursday (March 30) on the lawns of King’s House.
Chairman of the Inauguration Committee, Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, Phillip Paulwell, informed journalists at a press briefing at Jamaica House earlier today (March 27), that all territories in the region, if not represented by their heads, would have a representative at the function.
Heads of governments, who have already confirmed their attendance are: Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves; Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur; Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning; and Chief Minister of Turks and Caicos Islands, Michael Misick.
“We are expecting to receive further updates on other heads including the newly elected presidents of Chile (Michelle Bachelet) and Liberia (Ellen Johnson),” Minister Paulwell said, adding that an invitation had been sent to the United States government. “We will be hearing later today, who that representative will be,” he informed.
In addition to the regional and international heads of government, also expected for the ceremony are: Secretary General of CARICOM, Edwin Carrington; a delegation from Antigua & Barbuda headed by the Minister of Labour; delegations representing the government and opposition from the Bahamas, as well as representatives from Bermuda.
A 14-member congressional team from the United States Congress, led by Congressman Charles Rangle is also expected to attend the historic ceremony.
Mr. Paulwell noted that while confirmation of attendance have been received from other heads, their names could not be revealed because of security reasons.