Members of the Portmore Municipal Council accompanied representatives from the city of Hagen located in Germany on a courtesy call on the Minister of Local Government & Community Development on Tuesday, February 28, 2013. The German contingent, which consisted of the Deputy Mayor Dr. Christian Schmidt and two engineers, briefed Minister Arscott on their plans to twin with the Portmore Municipality in order to promote best practices between both cities in relation to climate change.

Both cities had agreed to cooperate within the framework of a project entitled “50 Municipal Climate Partnerships by 2015”. This agreement resulted from a Memorandum of Understanding with Engagement Global/Service Agency Communities in one World for Partnership in Climate Change, which seeks to establish a foundation for cities to collaborate with a view to develop best practices with respect to climate change.