The public relations consultant and former government press secretary, Mr PJ Mara, has been appointed as a trade representative by the Jamaican Government. He will act as an intermediary between Jamaica and Irish companies considering investment in the Caribbean island.

Jamaica's Minister of Industry, Commerce and Technology, Mr Philip Paulwell, in the course of a three-day visit to Ireland this week, said that his government was "very pleased" Mr Mara had accepted the offer to serve in the post of Trade Counsel, since Ireland was the biggest European investor in Jamaica.

"It is an honorary position which enables an individual to act on behalf of the Government of Jamaica in the promotion of trade between the two countries." There were opportunities for Irish companies in the information technology sector, especially in software development, he said.

The minister claimed a recent spate of violence in Kingston, in which at least 25 people were killed in gun battles involving civilians and the security forces, was a "one-off situation".

He continued: "Jamaica is now positioning itself to be the information technology giant of the region, pretty much the way Ireland has been in Europe, and we are therefore looking at strategic partnerships with Irish companies."

The minister said Jamaica had always maintained a connection with Ireland and recently Guinness had become involved in a major expansion with the purchase of Desnoes and Geddes (D&G), a major soft-drink and beer company which manufactures the best-selling Red Stripe lager.

In addition an Irish consortium whose shareholders include businessmen Denis O'Brien, Ossie Kilkenny and Leslie Buckley launched Digicel as Jamaica's first GSM mobile phone service, having paid US$47.5 million for the licence in June 2000. "So far, with that US$47.5 million, they have invested US$170 million in infrastructure and they have been extremely successful." It was disclosed at the Moriarty tribunal that Mr Mara was one of a number of consultants used by Esat Digifone when it was bidding for a mobile phone licence here in 1995.

Today in London, Digicel's international roaming facility will be launched to enable subscribers to roam freely throughout Europe with a mobile telephone.

The Jamaican government was interested in attracting investment from the Irish financial sector, Mr Paulwell said. The minister met AIB during his Irish visit.