Kingston, January 15 Two representatives from the city of Atlanta , Georgia will be in Jamaica to speak at upcoming seminar on Economic Development, Environmental Quality – a workable partnership for Jamaica .

This is part of a campaign jointly sponsored by the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to further engage citizens in the dialogue on economic development and environmental quality and how they can co-exist.

Fulton County Government out of Atlanta , Georgia will be represented by Suzette Arnold – Grants and Contracts Manager and Joyce Rhodes, an Economic Development specialist.

The Fulton County representatives will focus on how to hold developers accountable for adhering to the environmental policies and procedures established by Government. They will also explain their comprehensive approach to policy development, which involves the participation of community stakeholders.

Jamaica ’s partnership with the city of Atlanta includes the tourism, export and investment sectors.

Professor Anthony Clayton, expert on sustainable development, from the University of the West Indies , Mona will focus on the relationship between Economic Growth and the environment for better outcomes. Winsome Townsend – Director of Strategic Planning, National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will outline the processes to be followed to ensure environmental quality.

The seminar, scheduled for the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. Sancia Bennett Templer, Acting President, JAMPRO will give the opening remarks and will focus her presentation on “the balanced use of Jamaica ’s resources”.

The presentations will be followed by an open discussion from which Dennis Morrison, Chief Technical Officer, Office of the Prime Minister will present on a way forward. In addition to a question and answer session, the organisers plan to record opinions and suggestions from participants as to how best Jamaica can achieve the balanced use of natural resources that maximises development and employment creation without jeopardising our natural environment.

Material from the seminar will form a part of the data gathering now underway for the updating of the government’s National Industrial Policy.

The seminar is part of a public education programme undertaken by JAMPRO, with funding from CIDA, designed to increase informed public awareness of environment and development issues.

The programme also includes an essay competition for high school students on the same topic, Economic Development, Environmental – a workable partnership. The essay targets young people in the 13 to 18 age group. Results from the essay competition will form part of the public education programme which should culminate with a public meeting in Ocho Rios in February.