President Reagan and his wife had a very productive visit to Jamaica. They were exposed to bits of Jamaican culture and also engaged in high-level talks with the nation’s leaders.

Published Thursday, April 8, 1982

Rousing welcome for Reagan

-President and wife

-Hailed at the airport

PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN, the first serving United States president to visit Jamaica, landed at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday afternoon for an overnight visit and received a rousing welcome from hundreds of people in the waving gallery.

He gave a hearty wave and a beaming smile in response.

President Reagan and his wife Nancy responded to the burst of cheers from the gallery, which is approximately 100 yards from where Air Force One - the presidential plane - landed. Taking a good look across the tarmac, and although staring into a brilliant afternoon sun, he cracked a grin, and he and his wife acknowledged the cheers with a flurry of hands.

Then, after exchanging greetings with Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Edward Seaga, the president and his wife broke ranks while going to his Sikorsky helicopter – all set for the take-off for Jamaica House – and exchanged greetings with a group of Jamaicans who had entertained them on the tarmac.

The tight security that marked the visit of the president to Jamaica was relaxed as President and Mrs Reagan walked into the group of entertainers who included the Jamaica Folk Singers, a group of musicians on fifes and drums, and eight tiny dancing girls, the Paulette Cousins Dancers. The singers and dancers were so overcome by the sudden attention from the American president that they forgot to conclude their routine.

President Reagan and his wife were later flown in their American helicopter to Jamaica House for courtesy calls and bilateral discussions.

The tight security that prevailed at the airport kept regular flights waiting and newsmen holed up in the empty in-transit lounge for nearly an hour.

Security officials allowed the press onto the tarmac at 1:15 p.m. On the tarmac, a roped-in area contained reporters and photographers from the local media as well as several foreign press agencies and newspapers and all the major television networks in the United States.

Shortly afterwards, three Sikorsky helicopters from the US landed on the tarmac in a line. By this time, hundreds of people had gathered in the waving gallery under a blazing sun.

United States Marines, dressed in various colours, including one in camouflage battle fatigue and two others in black, red, and white ceremonial uniforms, and khaki and red, trooped across the tarmac.

Newsmen struggled to find the best vantage points. US Ambassador Loren Lawrence was as busy as a bee, with his identification card flapping from his lapel and a walkie-talkie in one hand.

At 1:45 p.m., a huge black limousine drove into position on the tarmac to pick up officials travelling with the president.

Shortly after, a Jamaica Defence Force helicopter landed, bringing Prime Minister Seaga and Mrs Seaga.

They were met by Lawrence, Donald Davidson; Brigadier Robert Neish, chief of staff of the Jamaica Defence Force; Commander John McFarlane of the Jamaica Coast Guard; and the Hon Mike Henry, minister of state for information.

Seaga and his wife led the line of dignitaries who were to meet President and Mrs Reagan to the foot of the ramp which was to be attached to the presidential aircraft.

Air Force One, with Mr Reagan and his party, landed at exactly 1:57 p.m. Ambassador Lawrence was the first to go aboard the aircraft after it came to a stop on the tarmac.

When Ambassador Lawrence re-emerged a minute later with the president and Mrs Reagan, a loud cheer rolled across the tarmac from the waving gallery. The president and his wife looked up to the gallery and smiled and waved to the crowd.

Ambassador Lawrence introduced the director of protocol to the president and Mrs Reagan. The director then introduced Prime Minister Seaga, Mrs Seaga, Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Hugh Shearer, and Cabinet members.

Those introduced were the Hon Dr Percival Broderick, the Hon J.A.G. Smith, the Hon Dr Mavis Gilmour, the Hon Dr Ronald Irvine, the Hon Douglas Vaz, the Hon Winston Spaulding, the Hon Anthony Abrahams, the Hon Neville Lewis, the Hon Errol Anderson, House Speaker, the Hon Talbert Forrest, Senate President the Hon Oswald Harding, the Hon Bruce Golding, the Hon Alva Ross, the Hon Pearnel Charles, and the Hon Dr Kenneth Baugh.

Also introduced were Keith Johnson, Jamaica’s ambassador to Washington,  Brigadier Neish, and Deputy Commissioner of Police D.B. Walker.

Prime Minister Seaga read a message of welcome in which he said that, during the president’s visit, discussions would be held on the Caribbean Basin Initiative proposals, as well as on a new window of opportunity for hard-pressed Caribbean countries to create new employment and improve standards of living, which are essential to all democratic systems.

President Reagan replied that Jamaica’s progress showed what could be done when people living in a democratic society were given the opportunity to work and enjoy the fruits of their labour.

The president said, “Jamaica is an inspiration to all of us who believe economic development and freedom are compatible and, in practice, are mutually reinforcing.”

As the applause died down, the voices of the Jamaica Folk Singers, who were at the airport for the welcome, lifted across the tarmac and President Reagan and Mrs Reagan turned an attentive ear to their song.

Eight tiny tots in pink and blue blouses with colourful skirts danced to the fore of the group to the beat of the popular mento tune Rucumbine.

The president and his wife slipped through their security cordon and walked across to the group, who was introduced by Mrs Seaga.

The president and his wife shared a few happy words with the children before rejoining their party and embarking on the helicopter for the flight to Jamaica House.

All along Mountain View Avenue there were large groups of people waving Jamaican and American flags, in anticipation of a glimpse of the president. But they were to be disappointed as the president was already on his way to Jamaica House by helicopter.

Arriving with the president was Walter Stocessel, Jr., deputy secretary of state, replacing Secretary of State Alexander Haig, who was sent at the last minute by President Reagan to Britain to mediate in the dispute over the Falkland Islands; White House Chief of Staff, James Baker III; Assistant to the President, Michael Deaver; Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant to the President, William P. Clark; the president’s National Security Adviser Craig Fuller; Assistant to the President for Cabinet Affairs, Larry Speakes; Principal Deputy Press Secretary Stephen Bosworth; Deputy Assistant Secretary for Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, replacing Thomas Enders, assistant secretary of state; and Craig Nalen, president of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

United States Secretary of State Alexander Haig should have accompanied the president and his party but, at Jamaica House later yesterday, President Reagan said Mr Haig had been sent to London.

The president said: “I am having Mr Haig go to London and Buenos Aires to see if we could not, in the interest of peace, which I think every country in the world wants, help to bring about a peaceful solution to this dispute.”

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