FORMER United Secretary of State, Jamaican-born General Colin Powell, will lead a presidential delegation to Kingston on Monday for celebrations to mark Jamaica's 50th year of Independence.

The announcement was made yesterday by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for President Barack Obama.

The other members of the delegation are US Ambassador to Jamaica Pamela Bridgewater and Yvette D Clarke from the New York House of Representatives. Clarke is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants.

Making the announcement yesterday, Clinton expressed best wishes for Jamaica and "for continued peace and prosperity in the years to come".

"This is an opportunity to reflect on your decades of progress as you continue to build a brighter future," she said.

She also underscored the strong ties between Jamaica and the USA.

"For 50 years, the United States and Jamaica have enjoyed a close friendship based on trust and mutual interest, strengthened by the people-to-people ties and a vibrant Jamaican-American community. Our collaboration within the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative is helping us move toward a safer and more secure environment for our citizens, and I am confident that our efforts will result in increased prosperity and stability for Jamaica and the United States. I am looking forward to working even more closely together to promote sustainable economic development, particularly through the Caribbean IdEA Marketplace," Clinton said.