President William Tubman visit to Jamaica –November 1954

PRESIDENT WILLIAM Tubman of Liberia visited Jamaica on November 19, 1954, to make history as the first head of an African state to pay an official visit to the island.

Accompanied by an entourage of 18 top Liberian officials, Tubman came by a British warship and spent two days as guest of the Government and people.

Accepting an invitation extended to him by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of England. Liberia’s chief executive included Jamaica in a tour which he has made to this part of the world.

As the president arrived by HMS Superb, flagship of the commander-in-chief of the America and West Indies station of the Royal Navy, he was greeted by a message of welcome from Her Majesty.

This was taken to him soon after the ship anchored in the Kingston Harbour. Tubman landed on schedule at 10.30 a.m. on November 19, to be received by the governor, the chief minister, Alexander Bustamante, and other officers of State at the Myrtle Bank Hotel pier, where the landing took place. As he rode to the shore in the ship’s launch, he was saluted 21 times by the ship’s guns, while a wave of cheering arose from the nearby wharves and ships.

After the welcome at the pier, the president went in a motorcade to Victoria Square, where he was given a civic welcome.

A crowd, estimated at 30,000 lined the route along Harbour and King streets and cheered the distinguished visitor as he rode by, while another 10,000 saw him as he rode up to King’s House.

Read full story: https:// gleaner.newspaperarchive.com/ kingston-gleaner/1954-11-20/

President of Liberia William S. Tubman steps ashore from the ship to the Myrtle Bank pier in Kingston. In the background can be seen the many people who lined the waterfront to get the first glimpse of the president, who is being helped to descend the steps by an aide-de-camp. Behind him are other members of the president’s staff.

A gift of a Bible was given to President Tubman when he attended a short service at the Coke Methodist Church on November 20, 1954, some minutes before his departure for Liberia. Rev Hartley Totty made the presentation to His Excellency.

GLEANER PHOTO Sybil Campbell (left), a Jamaican undergraduate at the University College of the West Indies, presenting an album of photographs to President Tubman on behalf of the Guild of Undergraduates at the University College library. At right is Professor A.K. Croston, acting principal of the college.