Spain’s King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia for State Visit February 17-18

King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain, will pay a two day state visit to Jamaica from February 17-18, during which they will participate in a number of activities. It will be the first visit of a Spanish Monarch to the country.
The Royal Couple is expected to arrive on Tuesday February 17, and will be met at the Norman Manley International Airport by the Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Professor Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall, Prime Minister Bruce Golding and other representatives of the Government.
A very busy programme of activities is being planned for their Majesties which will see them visiting the Institute of Jamaica, where they will open the exhibition ‘XAYMACA: Life in Spanish Jamaica 1494-1655’, organised jointly by the Embassy of Spain and the Spanish Ministry of Culture. They will then proceed to Gordon House where His Majesty is expected to address Parliament.
After Parliament, the delegations from Jamaica and Spain, headed by the respective Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Kenneth Baugh and Amb. Miguel Angel Moratinos, will meet at Jamaica House, where they are expected to sign several bilateral agreements, including the Air Services Agreement. Their Majesties will also be hosted at a state dinner by the Governor-General and Lady Hall. On day two of the Royal visit, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sophia will visit the Spanish Town Historical Square and tour the Spanish Town Hospital. They are expected to officially declare open the refurbished wing of the hospital, which has been financed with assistance from the Spanish Government.
A number of activities have also been planned for Queen Sofia. Her Majesty, accompanied by Lady Hall and other Spanish dignitaries will visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where she will be met by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kingston, the Mayor of Kingston and other dignitaries. Her Majesty will view the restoration works that have been undertaken with the assistance of Spanish experts.
Later in the afternoon, the Royal Couple will visit the second city -Montego Bay in St. James – where they will attend the opening of the refurbished Sangster International Airport, and an official luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister. They will also meet with other Government and community leaders, as well as members of Jamaica’s Olympic team. Later that evening, the Royal Couple will travel to Lucea in Hanover, where they will be hosted at a special reception by the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Ed Bartlett and the Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Jes