KINGSTON, Jamaica – Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, says members of the Rastafari community will have special access to the President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, His Imperial Highness, Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie, who will arrive in the island next week.

Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie, the grandson of the Emperor Haile Selassie, will arrive in Jamaica on Thursday, October 13, for a week of official engagements.

Grange says Prince Ermias’ schedule includes three specially arranged meetings with members of the Rastafari community across the island.

The first meeting will take place at Pitfour Nyahbinghi Centre in Montego Bay, St James, on Saturday, October 15 between 11:00am and 1:00pm. This meeting will be hosted by the Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society, in which the Prince will be hosted at “a reasoning”.

The event at Pitfour Nyahbinghi Centre will follow a civic ceremony at the St James Municipal Corporation where the mayor, Leeroy Williams, will present Prince Ermias with the key to the city of Montego Bay in the presence of the deputy prime minister, Dr Horace Chang, and the minister of state in the Office of the Prime Minister, Homer Davis.

In addition, on Sunday, October 16, Prince Ermias will attend communion service at the Holy Trinity Ethiopian Orthodox Church at Maxfield Avenue in St Andrew, beginning at 8:30am. Following the service, he will meet with members of the Orthodox community.

Following Sunday’s communion service, the Prince will tour the Trench Town Culture Yard in St Andrew at 3:00pm and meet with members of the Rastafari community on Tuesday, October 18.

Grange has invited members of the Rastafari community to attend these special engagements with Prince Ermias. She has called on the nation to extend to him and his delegation a warm Jamaican welcome.

Prince Ermias will be accompanied on his trip to Jamaica by his wife, Princess Woizero Saba Kebede, as well as members and advisors of the Ethiopian Crown Council.

The Prince will be the nation’s special guest for Heritage Week and will attend a number of activities including the National Honours and Awards Ceremony at King’s House on Heroes’ Day.

Heritage Week will be celebrated under the theme ‘Re-igniting Greatness through our Heritage’.