Mbeki
SOUTH AFRICAN President, Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is set to arrive in the island at noon today for a three-day visit expected to coincide with the 24th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The CARICOM meeting is set to take place in Montego Bay from July 2-5.
Mr. Mbeki, who will arrive at the Norman Manley International Airport by special aircraft, is to receive a 21-gun military salute after which he will be received by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, the Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke and other public officials.
Among the activities planned for his three-day visit are an address to students of the University of the West Indies (UWI) tomorrow, a meeting with the CARICOM heads and a wreath-laying ceremony at National Heroes Park in Kingston.
On Tuesday, Mr. Mbeki will join the CARICOM leaders in Ocho Rios where he will hold bilateral meetings at the Beaches Royal Plantation Inn. He is slated to depart Ocho Rios for Montego Bay on July 2, but will make stops at Dunn's River Falls and Dolphin Cove. While in the second city he will address the opening ceremony of the CARICOM conference and will be a special guest at another reception to be held at the Ritz- Carlton hotel.
Mr. Mbeki has been the President of the Republic of South Africa since June 1999 and is also the President of the African National Congress (ANC).
