Senator Imani Duncan-Price, the second of two Jamaican Senators selected to participate in the highly competitive EU Visitor's Programme (EUVP) is scheduled to leave the island on Saturday (May 16) for her two week study tour to Brussels, Belgium. She will return to the island on May 29. Senator Duncan-Price joins Senator Johnson-Smith as the only Jamaicans to have been selected for the programme since its inception in 1974. The EUVP invites young, promising leaders from countries outside the European Union to visit EU institutions to gain a first-hand appreciation of the EU’s goals, policies and peoples and to increase mutual understanding between professionals from non-EU countries and their EU counterparts. Selections are made through a committee of the EU parliament.

As part of her agenda Senator Duncan-Price will visit the European parliament and have individual meetings with several Directors and Heads of Unit who work with African Caribbean and Pacific Countries, CARIFORUM and issues relating to gender equality. The programme which includes a three day visit to Strasbourg, France will also feature cultural and sight-seeing tours.

Senator Duncan-Price's trip will coincide with the EUVP anniversary 40th anniversary celebration in which Jamaica will be featured in a special exhibition. The decision to include Jamaica was based on the impressive visit by Senator Kamina Johnson-Smith in March. The exhibition will be displayed at the European Parliament and at the EEAS building and will compile 12 photographs from selected countries along with portraits of the selected participants and a quote of their interview.

Head of Delegation of the European Union in Jamaica Ambassador Paola Amadei congratulated both Senators on their selection pointing out that it was a good way to honour a special year of partnership between Jamaica and the EU "Both women have worked extensively within the Senate and the public arena to promote women's and girls' rights. They have also been active participants in the EU-led Women's Network here in Jamaica and we could not have found a better way to recognise and honour the Jamaica –EU 40 year partnership celebration which we mark this year."

The EUVP is jointly sponsored and administered by the European Parliament and the European Commission. All programs are coordinated and arranged by the EUVP Secretariat and covers the participants' travel, accommodation expenses and health insurance throughout the trip. You can follow the Senator's visit on Twitter @eu_jamaica and @imani_livetruth