Modified Maven POM file to enable GPG signing of artifacts for publishing to Maven Central repository

I have modified the project's Maven POM file for the following:

1. Ensuring that it contains all the necessary information for the project to be accepted into the Maven Central repository (repo.maven.org / repo1.maven.org / search.maven.org);
2. Added Maven GPG plugin to enable GnuPG signing of the project artifacts, which is a mandatory step for project artifacts to be accepted into the Maven Central repository;
3. Added instructions on uploading the project to the Maven Central repository in the readme file.

I have pushed the first version of the project to Maven Central.  I am hoping that it will become available on search.maven.org within the next 48 hours.