IT COMES around every thousand year and as a once-in-a-lifetime event warrants a period of reflection and national celebration.

On Tuesday at the Jamaica Conference Centre, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson launched plans for a year-long celebration of the new millennium. Called Millennium Celebrations 2000-2001, the Prime Minister urged Jamaicans to focus on the achievements of the nation during the period. Despite the difficulties, the passage of a thousand years warrants a period of national celebration, he said.

Mr. Patterson added that in addition to pausing to look back at the past, citizens should also take the time to chart a clearer and more united future for the country.

"None of us who live to see the new millennium will ever have that experience again," Mr. Patterson said.

"For me, therefore, this millennium is not only about celebrating the past, but it is moreso about taking charge of our own future."

He said it was incumbent on those fortunate enough to share the experience "to do the right things and do them now, in order that the future will not only be secure, but be brighter and more harmonious."

Mr. Patterson also expressed the hope that national consensus would be reached on at least one important subject area ­ education ­ ahead of the new millennium.

The widespread circulation of the Green Paper on Education, is intended to bring about broad-based participation in the process to determine a truly national policy on education, he said.

Chairman of the National Millennium Committee, Education Minister Burchell Whiteman, pointed to an extensive list of national and parish activities proposed for the period between late December, 1999 and January 1, 2001. He said the latter date had been recognised by the Committee as the dawning of the new millennium.

The Minister also said the celebrations would not generally be funded by the Committee or the Government, but would instead be handled mainly by a combination of local interest groups. The Committee will mainly co-ordinate the activities.

The celebrations will include a grand homecoming planned by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) for Jamaicans living overseas as well as others who view the island as their spiritual base.

In addition, there will be a massive "watch-night" service at the National Arena on December 31, 1999.