U Thant arrives in Jamaica for a jam-packed visit

Secretary General U Thant's five-day visit to Jamaica was filled with meetings with dignitaries and courtesy calls. He was, however, very happy to finally arrive in Jamaica after being delayed due to a situation in Congo.

Published Saturday, February 16, 1963

U THANT IS HERE

Expects ‘fruitful stay’

UN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME TO BE DISCUSSED

Montego Bay, SJ, Feb. 15

THE Secretary General of the United Nations, U Thant, arrived at Montego Bay International Airport at 2:20 p.m. this afternoon on a five-day official visit to the island. He was accompanied by two advisers, Messrs Ramsis Nassif and D. Thomas.

In a brief statement shortly after alighting from the Pan American plane which brought him from New York, the Secretary General said: “I am very happy to be in Jamaica. It is my first visit to this beautiful country and for this, I am particularly grateful to the Government and people of Jamaica for having extended an invitation to me which made my visit possible.”

U Thant was originally scheduled to visit the island in January but was unable to do so because of conditions in the Congo. He said that he was looking forward to a very pleasant and fruitful stay in the country and also looked forward to meeting His Excellency the Governor General Sir Clifford Campbell: the Prime Minister, the Hon Sir Alexander Bustamante, and members of Government. He said he hoped to exchange views on the methods of implementing particularly the United Nations Technical Assistance Programmes in the country.

The Secretary General and his party were met by a Reception Committee headed by the Custos of St James, Hon F.M. Kerr-Jarrett, the Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor A.B. Smith, Mr Jimmy Lloyd, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr Ashton Wright, Chief Protocol Officer, Mr Owen D. Marsh, Parliamentary Counsellor, Mr R.C. McFarlane, MP, Mr L.H. Boothe of the Protocol Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, Area Superintendent F. Langford, and Superintendent J. Ricketts.

The custos greeted U Thant and welcomed him to Montego Bay, then introduced him to the other members of the welcoming party. The Secretary General and his party then left for the Half Moon Hotel for tea, then to Oracabessa where he will rest over the weekend.

In City Monday

On Monday, he was to leave for Kingston and will be met at Stony Hill by the Hon Donald Sangster, Minister of Finance. He will then go on to King’s House and will call on the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Norman Manley, and the Mayor, Councillor Frank Spaulding.

That afternoon, U Thant will attend a luncheon given in his honour by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet at the Casa Monte Hotel, and later that day he will deliver an address to a public meeting sponsored jointly by the United Nations Organisation at the University of the West Indies at the university.

A reception will be held in his honour by the Prime Minister and Lady Bustamante at Vale Royal in the evening, and that night he will attend a dinner party given for him by Their Excellencies, the Governor General and Lady Campbell.

He will visit the university at 10 a.m. after which he will hold a press conference at King’s House. He will drive through Western Kingston in the afternoon and inspect a guard of honour at the Palisadoes International Airport. He will depart from the airport at 4.15 p.m. via Montego Bay, where he will make a brief stop.

ST ANN’S BAY, St Ann, Feb 15 (From our correspondent): U Thant, the Burmese-born Secretary General of the United Nations, is staying at Highlands, owned by Mr W.W. Bonnel, in the Oracabessa area. The Martin’s Tours car which carried U Thant from Montego Bay to Highlands flew the flag of the United Nations throughout the 80-mile journey.

Police motorcycle outriders S.C. Davis and E.L. Forbes accompanied U Thant and his two aides, Messrs Nassif and Thomas: The Secretary General chatted with security police and government officials who had gathered to meet him.

WELCOME FOR THANT

U Thant, UN Secretary General, will be given a public welcome at the UWI Senate House Monday, beginning at 4.30 p.m. The meeting is being sponsored jointly by the United Nations Association and the UWI.

Before the function, U Thant will inspect a guard of honour of Youth Groups and UWI undergraduates.

The Prime Minister will welcome U Thant on behalf of the Government. Music will be provided by the Police Band.

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