Jamaicans welcomed President Julius K. Nyerere as one of their own. He was officially welcomed by Prime Minister Michael Manley. but thousands of Jamaicans gathered to catch a glimpse. Some even got to touch the President.

Published Sunday, September 15, 1974

Rousing welcome for Nyerere

Thousands gather to Greet the Mwalimu

THOUSANDS thronged the Norman Manley International Airport in a rousing welcome yesterday to President ‘Mwalimu’ Julius K. Nyerere of the United Republic of Tanzania as he arrived for a four-day official visit.

To the loom of guns in salute, drums of celebration, and shouts of applause, the diminutive 52-year-old African leader came to a warm Jamaican welcome, mingling the rites of protocol with rhythmic music and dance.

Thousands lined the route of a two-hour long motorcade from the airport winding through the city to tThe Pegasus hotel, where the President and his entourage are staying.

As anticipated from the controversy that has preceded the President’s visit, there were no representatives of the Opposition parties at the airport.

The BWIA jet that brought the President from Guyana touched down an hour later than scheduled at 1:25 p.m. At that moment, the first of a 21-gun salute by the 1stBattallon, the Jamaica Regiment, boomed out.

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Cheers

This was the signal for the crowds to burst into cheers, waving banners that bore messages of welcome.

Immediately before this, Their Excellencies the Governor General, the Most Hon. Florizel Glasspole, and the Most Hon. Mrs Glasspole had arrived by helicopter from King’s House.

He was escorted to the dais for the playing of the National Anthem by the band of the Battalion, the Jamaica Regiment conducted by Bandmaster E. B. Tulloch.

Her Excellency wore a tan-coloured polyester dress with a matching dress-length over-coat, trimmed in guipure lace of a similar shade.

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Michael Manley and Mrs Manley were on the scene earlier than Their Excellencies. Tan was the colour of the day, for the Prime Minister’s Kareba was in a shade of this hue.

So was Mrs Manley’s gore-skirted dress with its tucked bolero. Her hat was of the same material and she wore matching denim slingbacks.

President Nyerere also wore a tan Tanzanian suit. But his lady, wearing her national dress, had hers fashioned from silk embroidered all over in pink and blue motifs. She was bareheaded with her hair short but brushed flat.

Arriving in the same plane as the President was Senator the Hon. Dudley Thompson, Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, who met the President and his party in Trinidad and Tobago then went on with them to Guyana.

Before the visitors alighted, Jamaica’s Chief of Protocol, Mr Jendo Boothe, boarded the aircraft where Mr Salim A. Eslim, Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, presented Nyerere and Mrs Nyerere.

As the President and his wife alighted, they were met by Their Excellencies and the Prime Minister and his wife. The Governor-General then introduced the Chief of Staff, the Jamaica Defence Force, Brig Rudolph Green, and the Commissioner of Police Mr Basil Robinson.

Inspection

President Nyerere was escorted to the dais for the playing of the Tanzanian National Anthem.

Then he inspected the Guard of Honour mounted by the Jamaica Defence Force under Guard Commander, Mayor A. R. F. Robinson.

The whole party then walked to the helicopter, which took Their Excellencies back to King’s House.

A short period of entertainment was provided by some 200 Corporate Area welcome dancers, who created a colourful splash of pinks, yellow, white, and red as they swayed to the beats of Light of Sabs drummers. Following this item was one by groups of John Canoe dancers from St Thomas.

Portland, Westmoreland, Hanover and St Elizabeth.

The Prime Minister next presented his Cabinet and their spouses to the Presidential Party. Those were the Hon. David Coore, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. P. J. Patterson, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism; the Hon. Howard Cooke, Minister of Education, the Hon. Anthony Spaulding, Minister of Housing, the Hon. Allan Issacs, Minister of Mining and Natural Resources, the Hon. Dr Kenneth McNeil, Minister of Health and Environmental Control and Mrs McNeil, the Hon Ernest Peart Minister of Labour and Employment and Mrs Peart, the Hon. Wilson Jones, Minister of Pensions and Social Security and Mrs Jones, the Hon Eric, Minister of Public Utilities Communications and Transport, the Hon. Rose, Minister of Local Government and Councillor Arthur, the Hon. Eli Matalon, Minister of National Security and Justice and Mrs Matalon, the Hon. Sydney Pagon Minister of Works, Senator the Hon. Dudley Thompson, Senator the Hon. Dr Douglas Manley, Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth and Community Development, Senator the Hon. Leacroft Robinson Q.C, Attorney General and Mrs Robinson and Senator the Hon. A. G. R. Byfield President of the Senate and Mrs Byfield.

The Chief Justice, the Hon. Kenneth Smith, O.J. and Mrs Smith were next introduced as were the Mayor Councillor Ralph Brown and Mrs Brown, the American Bishop Swaby the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston, the Most Rev. Samuel J. Carter, S.J. and the Rev. R. I . Nelson, Chairman Diplomats presented were Mr. Kurt Schmidt, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, and Mrs Schmidt, Sr. Jose Cabellero Bazan, Ambassador of Mexico and Senora Cabellero; Mr John Harrington, High Commissioner of Canada, and Mrs Harrington, Sr Roberto Cusano, Ambassador of the Republic of Argentine, and Senora Cusano; Mr Charles Archibald High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago and Mrs. Archibald; Sr. Ramon Pez Ferro, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, M. Victor Gares, Ambassador of the Republic of France, Mr Sumner Gerard, Ambassador of the United States of America, and Mrs Gerald, Sr. Francisco Quijada, Ambassador of the Republic of Venezuela and Senora Quijada, Mr James Sokoya, High Commissioner, Nigeria, and Mrs. Sokoya; Dr Francis oFandino-Silva.

Minister Envoy and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Colombia Mr C. Joseph, Acting High Commissioner, Republic of Guyana, Mr B. Van Den Brock Charge d’Affaires, Netherlands, and Lu Te-Fang, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Attache Hsueh Ehih-Laing.

 Mr Gordon Wells, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs and Mrs Wells, Mrs Basil Robinson; Mr Sturges Shields, United Nations Development Programme and Mrs Shields and Mr A Viana – Office of the Organisation of American States were next presented.

They were followed by members of the executive of the People’s National Party – Senator Ben Clare, Senator Carlyle Dunkley, Senator Paul Miller, Mr Horace Clarke Councillor E. G. Barrett, Mr William Isaacs, Dr D. K. Duncan, Miss Lisa Holt, Miss Florizelle O’Connor, Mr Tony Phillips, Miss Gladys Ellington, Mr Leroy Cooke, Mr Bobby Jones, Mr Ferdinand Neita, Mr Ruel Cooke, Mr Ralston Smith, Mr Patrick Cooper, Mr Courtney Fletcher, Mr V. B. Edwards, Mr Las Perry, CouncillorKarleneKirlew, Miss Maxine Kirlew.

Before the motorcade left the airport for its destination at the Jamaica Pegasus, the President presented his entourage to the Prime Minister and Mrs Manley.

His party

The Presidential party consisted of The Honourable J.S. Malecela, M.P. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Malecela. The Honourable Major General S. M. Sarakikya M. P. Minister for Youth and National Culture, Mr. Hamid Ameir Member of Zanzibar Revolutionary Council, Mr. C. Litute Executive Member of TANU National Executive Mr. J. R. Robinson, Member of Parliament, Mr. A. B. Nyakyi , Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Salim A Salim, High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to Jamaica Mrs. …., Mr. J.W. Bitiku, Private Secretary to the President, Mrs. Bitiku, Professor Nhonoli, Personal Physician to the President, Mr. E Kibira, Director of Adult Education, Mr. A. B. Suedi, Director and Chief of Protocol, Mr. Ben Mkapa, Press Secretary to the President, Miss J. Wicken, Personal Assistant to the President, Mr. G. Mapuida, Secretary of Political Education TANU Mr. D. Simbeye, Chief Staff Officer, Mayor S. Boma, A.D.C. to the President, Miss Ruth Rogoke, Representative of Tanzania Women Organization Mr. N. Rweyemamu, Counsellor, Tanzania Permanent Mission to the U.N.

B. Munganda, Acting Director – Europe and Americans, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr M.K. Rinji, Third Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. D. Mmari, TANU Youth League Representative Miss L Fanueli, Social Secretary, State House, Miss F. Mwaipiana, Personal Attendant to the President, Mr F. Mwangota Staff Officers, Mr Raphael Mkanzabi, Staff Officer, Mr John Makwaia, Photographer, Mr AkadogaChiledi, Radio Tanzania. Mr. Boniface Clemence, Cameraman.

Motorcade

After the airport ceremonials, the motorcade to the city began.

With the dying sounds of “Jamboss” played by the “Light of Saba” band – music specially arranged for the visit and the crack of the “whip” used by the John Canoe dancers still echoing, the motorcade bearing the president swept through the west gate of the airport to the shouts of “Hail power” and the son of Judah is here” from the thousands that had gathered there from early in the morning.

As the motorcade moved on to the Palisadoes Road bathers from the Gunboat Beach rushed to the street to cheer.

At the Harbour View roundabout, hundreds of flag and banner wavers cheered.

Thousands lined the route from the Windward Road into the city. At the intersection of Paradise Street and Windward Road, the first stop, other thousands waited with banners and flags.

Concert

On a bandstand, the Inner Circle band belted out “Play de Music.”

The President and the Prime Minister along with Madame Nyerere and Mrs Manley left their cars.

And for a brief moment, the President was lost in a mass of human bodies which gave Security men some anxious moments.

Reaching the bandstand the band played “Rock A My Soul In the Bosom of Abraham.” The president tapped his feet to the music, held his hand high in the air and acknowledged the welcome. This act signalled the crowd to shout “power, power, power.”

From there the motorcade continued on the Windward Road, East Queen Street in Parade where thousands waited on the Spanish Town Road higglers, shoppers, and schoolchildren lined the route and in some instances broke police barriers to get a close look at the President.

At the Trench Town square another huge crowd waited for the arrival of the President and his party.

The Zap-Pow hand in the meantime entertained the crowd with some of Bob Marley’s songs including “Rebel Music.”

An elderly Rastafarian, seemingly overcome, wept openly. Another who tried to touch the President was dragged roughly away. But President Nyerere who witnessed the incident called the man who rushed up and received a hearty handshake and a pat on the shoulder. The crowd erupted in shouts of “Hail and power to that man.”

Hundreds of people again lined the route from Trench Town up Maxfield Avenue and on to Half Way Tree Square. At the square, several hundred waited. The crowd was so large that when the president came out of the car he was once again lost. Prime Minister Manley who got carried away by the crowd was seen at one time beckoning to the President, but the crowd was too large and so the president went back to the car.

Manley however, sat on top of the car and received the applause. He rejoined the President and the motorcade departed triumphantly for the Pegasus Hotel.

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