With 120 delegates and observers, the RASC’s 1977 conference commenced at the Jamaica Hilton Hotel, featuring addresses by Governor General Glasspole, Prince Philip, and others. Sessions explored tropical agriculture opportunities, the structure of agricultural communities in developing nations, and the role of agricultural societies in serving rural communities. Prince Philip chaired a session on Wednesday, followed by visits to Reynolds Jamaica Mines and agricultural projects across the island.

PUBLISHED TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1977

Prince Philip comes for  RASC parley

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, president of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth, arrived on the island yesterday afternoon at the Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, to open officially the second leg of the RASC’s 1977 conference, beginning at the Jamaica Hilton Hotel today. The first leg of the conference in Ottawa, Canada ended over the weekend.

The prince arrived by an aircraft of the Queen’s Flight and was accompanied by his equerry, his private secretary, his valet and Scotland Yard security men.

The duke and his party were met on arrival at the airport by His Excellency the Governor General, the Most Hon Florizel Glasspole; Lord Richard Digby.  honorary member of the RASC, and Frank Francis, permanent secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Cecil Donaldson; Acting Custos of St James, Dr H.L. Morrison; British High Commissioner John Drinkall; Canadian High Commissioner C.W. Hooper; Major General Rudolph Green, chief of staff of the JDF; and Commissioner of Police Desmond Campbell.

The conference – the biggest so far in the history of the RASC with some 120 delegates and observers in attendance – gets underway at 10:30 this morning with the governor general delivering the welcome address. This will be followed by the official opening by Prince Philip.  Later in the day, an address will be delivered by the parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Jim Thompson, in the absence of Minister Belinfanti, who is off the island.  The president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, Courtney Fletcher, who heads the local delegation, will preside at today’s session.

Included in today’s programme is a session on the agricultural community and opportunities for tropical agriculture.  At this session, a member of the local delegation, Dr Keith Roache, adviser to the National Commercial Bank, will be the guest speaker. This will be followed by a panel discussion. Delegates from Jamaica, Australia, New Guinea, Zambia and Canada are scheduled to participate.

A scheduled discussion on the structure of agricultural communities in developing countries will open tomorrow’s session with the deputy governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Dr Gladstone Bonnick, as guest speaker. Delegates from India, Kenya and the Caribbean region are expected to participate in this session.

At 2 o’clock on Wednesday, Prince Philip will chair a session on agricultural societies and how they can serve agricultural and rural communities. On Thursday, the conference party will have a full day of visits to Reynolds Jamaica Mines and agricultural projects across the island.

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