M. Christian Laigret, prefect of Martinique and a distinguished organiser of the French Resistance during World War II, arrived in Jamaica for an official two-day visit. Greeted by Governor Sir Hugh Foot at the Hanover Street wharf, M. Laigret was welcomed with a guard of honour from the Royal Welch Fusiliers. The visit, marked by courtesy calls and cultural exchanges, highlights Anglo-French cooperation in the Caribbean.

Published January 7, 1953

Martinique Prefect On Two-Day Visit

Is King’s House guest

Anglo-French relations translated into personal terms yesterday when M. Christian Laigret, prefect of Martinique, arrived in Jamaica for an official two-day visit to the island.

His Excellency the Governor, Sir Hugh Foot, was at the Hanover Street wharf to meet his distinguished guest, who will stay with him at King’s House until Thursday. M. Laigret arrived aboard the S.S. Colombie from Fort-de-France, Martinique.

Coming to pay a courtesy call also on the Commanding Officer of the British Forces in the Caribbean Area, the French governor was also met at the pier by Brigadier Cosby Jackson.

A guard of honour was furnished by the First Battalion, the Royal Welch Fusiliers, the regiment stationed in Jamaica for the occasion.

The parade, drawn up on the Polo Field at Up Park Camp, was inspected by the prefect on his way to King’s House.

No formal press interview was given by the prefect on arrival. He did, however, express his pleasure at coming to Jamaica and his assurance that he would have an enjoyable visit here.

Three long blasts on the foghorn of the Colombie signalled the departure of M. Laigret and his entourage from the ship after their arrival.

The party, accompanied by Brigadier Jackson, left shortly after that of His Excellency the Governor for Up Park Camp. There, the prefect took the salute.

The Governor and Lady Foot met M. Laigret aboard the Colombie. During the meeting, Lady Foot acted as interpreter between His Excellency and the prefect.
M. Laigret was accompanied on his voyage from Fort-de-France by Colonel Louis Valentin, commander of the French troops in the Antilles; M. Louis Verger, sous-prefect and private secretary to the prefect; and Captain Roger Lespiau, military secretary to the prefect.

During the last war, M. Laigret was an organiser of the French Resistance movement, the Free French, in London and in the United States. He was also governor of the French colonies in Africa, including the French Cameroons and Gabon (in French Equatorial Africa), and of New Caledonia. This term of duty lasted about 15 years.
M. Laigret then became prefect of Martinique, an island which ranks as a department of France. A department is the next step in a French colony’s progress and ranks as a part of France, with equal status to a French department (or province).

In Martinique, M. Laigret is the chief executive of the government, as the representative of the minister of interior. He is in charge of all departments except the Department of Justice.

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