Prime Minister Bustamante welcomed Dr Daniel Oduber of Costa Rica to Jamaica for a series of important talks. The two countries share mutual respect and have committed to forming beneficial partnerships.

Published Saturday, September 14, 1963

Costa Rica’s Oduber here for discussions

The Costa Rican Foreign Minister, Dr Daniel Oduber, arrived in Jamaica yesterday morning for discussions with the Jamaican Government on “many things common” to the governments of both countries.

Shortly after his arrival at the Palisadoes International Airport, he paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante, who told him that Costa Rica had always been a great friend of Jamaica.

The Prime Minister revealed that he would make a tour of certain Latin American countries within the next few months.

Dr Oduber discussed with the Prime Minister a wide range of subjects, including the political and economic situation in Latin America and the Caribbean. He said that Jamaicans in Costa Rica were very active, and he made special mention of Dr E. H. Fagan, a former Mayor of Kingston, who, he said, was a member of his party.

100% in favour

In an airport interview, Dr Oduber said that Costa Rica was “one hundred percent in favour” of Jamaica’s entry into the Organization of America States and that Costa Rica was urging other American countries to take a similar view.

Costa Rica, he said was entering the Central American Common Market and there were many Jamaican agricultural and industrial products that were marketable in Central America.

He said that his visit to Jamaica was concerned primarily with establishing trade ties between the two countries since he felt that there was scope for “profitable and sizeable” trade.

Oduber later lunched with the Governor General, Sir Clifford Campbell, and Lady Campbell, and paid courtesy calls on the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Leonard Currey, the Minister of Development and Welfare, Hon. Edward Seaga, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Hon. Donald Sangster.

He was accompanied by Mr Ramon Ortega, Under Chief of Protocol in the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry; Mr Martin Carazo, Costan Rican Consul to Jamaica; and Mr Charles Burgess of the Jamaican Ministry of External Affairs.

Today, he will have talks with Hon. Robert Lightbourne, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Mr Norman Manley, Q.C., Leader of the Opposition. On Monday, he will hold a press conference in the Prime Minister’s Conference Room.

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