Prince Harry to visit Jamaica

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

PREPARATIONS are well underway for next month’s visit of Prince Harry, who will be in Jamaica March 5-8, representing Her Majesty as part of the international celebrations commemorating the 60th anniversary of her coronation.

During his visit, Prince Harry, who is a captain in the British army, will participate in military exercises with fellow officers at the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Up Park Camp base, and co-pilot a JDF helicopter to Trelawny, after which he will visit the Falmouth Pier and renovated Water Square.

In Falmouth, the Prince will stop at the William Knibb Baptist Church and pay brief respects at the memorial that was erected by the free Jamaicans in honour of the emancipator, William Knibb. Prince Harry will later be treated to a Jamaica Night reception at the Sandals Royal Caribbean Hotel in Montego Bay. The evening will showcase Jamaican cuisine and culture.

Other highlights of the visit will include a tour of the Bustamante Hospital for Children and the Victoria Jubilee Hospital; a visit to see a training session at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Usain Bolt Track; listening to a moot debate by students at the UWI, Mona Law Faculty; and a visit to the non-governmental association, RISE Life, which serves communities in downtown Kingston.

The governor-general will host a dinner at King’s House in honour of the Prince and at which Prince Harry is expected to deliver a speech recognising Jamaica’s 50th anniversary as an independent nation. The Prince’s visit will be of value to Jamaica as it will highlight the country’s tourism developments on the North Coast and Falmouth in particular, as well as the important work being done in the area of youth and children.

Prince Harry will visit Belize and the Bahamas ahead of his visit to Jamaica, which will be his final official duty in honour of his grandmother’s Diamond Jubilee. The Queen’s most recent visit to Jamaica was in 2002. Prince Harry’s father, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, represented the Queen on an official visit in 2008.