Spanish Monarch to address Parliament
Published:Tuesday | February 17, 2009 | 1:32 PM
The Spanish monarch King Juan Carlos is scheduled to address a Joint Sitting of the Houses of Parliament at 3.10 p.m. today.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia are expected to arrive at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston at 2 p.m. for a two day state visit.
On arrival at the airport, the royal couple will be met by Professor Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall, Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Mrs. Golding; Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Stewart Saunders, and Commissioner of Police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin.
After leaving the airport, the Spanish monarch will visit the Institute of Jamaica and then head for Gordon House.
At 4.30 p.m., Jamaican and Spanish delegations, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Kenneth Baugh, and the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Ambassador Miguel Angel Moratinos will sign bilateral agreements and hold a press conference, at the Office of the Prime Minister.
In the evening, the Governor-General will host a State Dinner for the royal couple at King\'s House.
Tomorrow Queen Sophia will visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
King Juan Carlos is expected to hold private talks with Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller.
The Spanish king and queen will then visit the Spanish Town Historical Square and the Spanish Town Hospital.
They will then leave Kingston for Montego Bay for an official ceremony at the Sangster International Airport from which they are expected to depart later in the day for Florida in the United States.