KINGSTON – Prime Minister Andrew Holness arrived in Namibia for what is the first official State visit by a Jamaican Head of Government to that country, as the first stop in a trip to the African continent.
When he arrived at the Namibian Hosea Kutako Airport, he was welcomed with traditional festivities at by Namibian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Corporation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndtaitwah; Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment and Tourism; and Christine Hoebes, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, along with other dignitaries.
Prime Minister Holness is accompanied on his visit by Minister of Culture Olivia Grange; High Commissioner for Jamaica to South Africa, Angella Comfort; Director of Bilateral Relations at the Ministry Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Shorna-Kay Richards; Honorary Counsel for Jamaica in Namibia, Professor Earl Taylor; and son of Marcus Garvey, Dr Julius Garvey.
The Prime Minister engaged in a brief courtesy call with the Deputy Prime Minister before being transported in convoy to the Namibian State House where he had a short meeting with the President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr Hage G Geingob.
Both leaders expressed sincere appreciation for the strong ties between Jamaica and Namibia and spoke of the history of cooperation between the two countries in relation to Namibia’s independence struggle.
Prime Minister Holness will Tuesday commence the main programme of his State visit, and hold official talks with the Namibian President. During their meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of sports and one for political consultations will be signed.
The Jamaican leader will also meet with members of the Namibian private sector at a luncheon to be hosted by the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He will then join the President of Namibia for the renaming of a street in the Capital City of Windhoek, in honour of Jamaica’s first National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey. (CMC)
