MAYOR of Savanna-la-Mar Councillor Bertel Moore was on Sunday presented with the Key to the City of Tottori Prefecture, Japan, by the city’s governor Shinji Hirai.

The presentation took place during a welcome reception for Governor Hirai and members of his delegation at the Couples Swept Away Resort in Negril, in recognition of Mayor Moore’s work in the twinning of Westmoreland and the Tottori Prefecture.

Governor Hirai said he now considers the people of Westmoreland, and Jamaica in general, his extended family.

“Mayor Moore is truly deserving of this honour and we thank him for the work he has done in ensuring that the parish of Westmoreland is twinned with Tottori Prefecture. He is a true friend of our city and we look forward to a long and beneficial relationship,” Governor Hirai said.

Earlier in the day, Governor Hirai and his delegation attended church in Negril, visited The Mannings’ School, the Old Fort, the Westmoreland Parish Library and attended a cultural presentation at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall in Savanna-la-Mar.

He also observed work being undertaken on the new municipal building for the parish.

At the Mannings’ School, Governor Hirai toured the library, which is located in a section of the original building that was constructed in 1738. He was presented with a framed photograph of the building by 6th form prefect, Tyrone Walker.

Governor Hirai was joined by Mayor Moore and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development Denzil Thorpe in the planting of a pine tree on the grounds of the Westmoreland Parish Library to mark the occasion of his visit.

The governor also donated books to the library and officially opened a small Japanese exhibition inside the facility.