Leaders of the Jamaican and Puerto Rican governments left their meeting with great anticipation after setting the stage for mutually beneficial partnerships. Dr Daniel Oduber Quiros said one of his greatest ambitions materialised by this visit.

Published Wednesday, March 10, 1976

Closer Jamaica – Costa Rica ties set

Trade mission to arrive soon

COSTA RICA HOPES to get technological assistance from Jamaica in developing its bauxite industry.  This was revealed yesterday afternoon by the President of Costa Rica, Dr Daniel Oduber Quiros, who visited the island on a one-day informal visit and held discussions with the Prime Minister, the Hon. Michael Manley, and other Ministers of Government at Jamaica House.

“We want to be closer to Jamaica because not only politically they have done the best for bauxite producing countries, but also in technology. We have a feeling that Jamaica will be the centre of aluminium technology in the world,” the Costa Rican President said at a press conference shortly before his departure.

Listing the subjects discussed as bauxite, tourism, the exporting of meat and dairy products to Jamaica, the possibility of a bilateral agreement with Air Jamaica, and the importation of foodstuff and industrial goods, he gave no information on the depth of the discussions but spoke on the possibility of closer economic, cultural, and social ties between the two countries.

He said, however, that a mission from Costa Rica would visit Jamaica shortly to discuss trade promotion and to explore the possibility of an air transport agreement as well as an arrangement for technical assistance in bauxite and tourism.

Costa Rica was beginning to expand its tourist industry, which, last year, brought in $70 million in revenue.  Jamaica could assist the country in this direction, he said.

Dr Oduber said that his country was the number one exporter of meats in Latin America to the United States.

A joint communiqué issued after the discussions between the two leaders stated that discussions were wide-ranging, covering matters of mutual interest to Jamaica and Costa Rica as well as wider and international relations.

RECOGNITION

Both sides, the communiqué stated, recognised the importance of further strengthening ties between both countries, particularly in the field of economic and cultural relations.

Among the main matters discussed was the Latin American and Caribbean Shipping line (NAMUCAR), and it was agreed that it was one of the instruments that could be used for the future development of trade in the region.

Also discussed were the Latin American Economic System (SELA), the development of closer relations between the English-speaking Caribbean and the Central American countries and the perspective of both countries on various international issues.

Commenting on the role of the OAS, the Costa Rican President said that it had to change, adding that the rules and procedures were obsolete.

Earlier, the Costa Rican President said that ever since he became president in 1974, one of his greatest ambitions materialised by this visit.

The Prime Minister, after the press conference, told the visiting President:“We have looked forward with very much pleasure to this visit, which marks an era of closer dialogue between Jamaica and Costa Rica.”

He said that he had always admired the achievements of Costa Rica, which was an important model of a democratic socialist approach to development in the hemisphere.

Mr Manley said that he was heartened by Costa Rica’s active participation in NAMUCAR.

Attending the discussions between the two leaders were the Minister of External Affairs.  Senator the Hon Dudley Thompson, the Minister of Public Utilities and Transport; the Hon. Eric Bell, the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Foreign Trade; the Hon. P. J. Patterson, and officials from the office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of External Affairs.

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