Westmoreland to host Japanese students in cultural exchange initiative
Published:Monday | March 10, 2025 | 12:05 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Savanna-la-Mar Mayor Danree Delancy, who is also the chairman of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC), says a delegation of Japanese students from Tottori Prefecture is to visit the western parish later this year, and will be living in the homes of residents during their stay.
According to Delancy, the plan is for the young Japanese, who will be arriving in the island in November, to immerse themselves in Jamaica’s rich cultural experience. Their visit forms part of the 10-year-old twinning arrangement between the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation and the Tottori Prefecture government.
“The discussions around the exchange programme include sending down some students in November of this year, where they will stay in Jamaican homes to experience the real Jamaican culture,” Delancy told The Gleaner following a recent courtesy call by a Tottori Prefecture delegation led by Tanaka Yukiyasu, assistant director of the Domestic and International Affairs Division of the Tourism and Exchange Bureau in the Japanese city.
“Ahead of that delegation arriving here, we should be sending a delegation to Tottori Prefecture in August, which will include some students from the parish and a staff member from the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation,” added Delancy.
The mayor, who is the councillor for the Bethel Town division, said his government counterparts in Tottori Prefecture are seeking to strengthen their collaboration with Westmoreland and, in the near future, will be increasing the exchange of technical professionals in building technology and road rehabilitation.
“They have pledged their continued support in other areas that have to do with skills training and enhancing our capabilities in the roads and works department. In the past, we have had people from the accounts, building department, and roads and works departments go up there, spending from six to 12 months learning best practices,” explained Delancy.
Additionally, he noted that outside of the exchange network, the WMC will be scouting among high schools in the parish to find the best talents in track and field, who will be sent to compete in the Tottori Prefecture Marathon next March.
As part of the strengthening of the relationship between Tottori Prefecture and Westmoreland, Iwami Senior High School in Tottori Prefecture and Little London High School in Westmoreland recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). This agreement outlines collaborative efforts in educational and cultural exchanges, ensuring that students from both institutions can benefit from shared knowledge, experiences, and opportunities.