By Trudy Simpson, Staff ReporterPRESIDENT THABO Mbeki of South Africa arrived in Jamaica yesterday to a 21-gun salute, a military guard of honour, red-carpet treatment and was later serenaded by Jamaican folk music.
He was met at the Norman Manley International Airport, east Kingston, by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, Sir Howard Cooke, the Governor-General, Lady Cooke and other officials. Scores of onlookers, some seeing off or meeting relatives or friends, viewed from the airport's waving gallery, the short ceremony on the tarmac to welcome President Mbeki flew in on a South African Air Force plane with his presidential party, at noon.
The Jamaica Military Band played the South African national anthem, welcoming him to Jamaica. Also greeting him were South African High Commissioner Thandyise Chiliza. Senator Bruce Golding of the Jamaica Labour Party, represented Opposition Leader Edward Seaga.
Also, President Mbeki was met by Police Commissioner Francis Forbes and Rear-Admiral Hardley Lewin, Chief of Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). The Chief of Staff escorted President Mbeki as he inspected the guard of
honour formed by JDF soldiers. Following this, Mr. Patterson and Sir Howard introduced to President Mbeki, Cabinet members, other public officials, diplomats and representatives of the Airports Authority.
The South African President is accompanied by nine officials, including Dr. N.C. Dlamini Zuma, South Africa's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and J. Radebe, Minister of Public Enterprises, and acting Minister of Transport.
President Mbeki's visit coincides with the 24th regular meeting of the conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), scheduled to be held in Montego Bay, St. James from July 2 to 5.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Today, President Mbeki will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at National Heroes Park, central Kingston. Later, he will be presented with the Keys to the City of Kingston, and tonight, he will address students at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
Tomorrow, President Mbeki will join CARICOM leaders in Ocho Rios where he will hold bilateral meetings at the Beaches Royal Plantation Inn. He is slated to depart Ocho Rios for Montego Bay on Wednesday, July 2, but will make stops at Dunn's River Falls and Dolphin Cove.
President Mbeki will address the opening ceremony of the CARICOM conference in Montego Bay and will be a special guest at a reception at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Rose Hall, Montego Bay.
Mr. Mbeki has been the President of the Republic of South Africa since June 1999 and is also the president of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa.
