WESTERN BUREAU — Vin Martin, Jamaica’s Honorary Consul to Atlanta, will be presented with the keys to the city of Montego Bay, next Thursday, in an official ceremony at the western city’s Civic Centre.

He will be honoured for his role in developing ties between Atlanta and Montego Bay in their sister city programme.

During his tenure as Honorary Consul, Martin has brought several trade missions to Jamaica, as well as facilitated a high school exchange programme between students in Atlanta and from schools in Montego Bay.

He has also established scholarship programmes for a few traditional high schools such as Montego Bay High School for girls.

Martin will also receive accolades for spearheading the annual medical mission to Montego Bay as part of the Atlanta/Montego Bay sister city programme. Since the inception of the mission 10 years ago, more than 20,000 patients have benefited from the mission and more that $30 million has been spent on medical supplies.

In April 1997, Martin became Jamaica’s third Honorary Consul to Atlanta. In this capacity, he provides passport services to the more than 75,000 Jamaicans living in Georgia. He meets regularly with both Jamaican and local government officials on matters pertaining to Jamaicans.