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T
housands of chanting,
drum-beating, flag-waving
Ras Tafarians dominated the
proceedings in honour of His Imperial
Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I of
Ethiopia, at the civic reception at the
National Stadium yesterday(April 21,
1966) afternoon.
When the Emperor arrived, ac-
companied by the Governor-General,
there were shouts of “Almighty God”,
“Peace’ “Ras Tafari. When one Of the
Commissioners of the Kingston and
St Andrew Corporation, Mr. Eustace
Bird presented him with the Key of the
City of Kingston, the crowd went wild
with cheering.
The Ras Tafarians, dressed in the
Ethiopian colours, stormed the section
around the Royal Box from very early
in the afternoon and filled the reserved
seats, making it impossible for dig-
nitaries and prominent persons to be
seated in the usual manner.
And not only did they fill the re-
served and other seats near the Royal
Box; large crowds of them spilled
over onto the paved area between the
grounds and stand in order to get a
close look at the Emperor.
DRUM BEATS
Long before the reception began, the
beating of drums was heard.
During the reception the police were
kept busy maintaining order and keep-
ing the isle clear.
Shortly after 5 p.m., the Acting
Prime Minister arrived via the Mara-
thon Tunnel. Lady Campbell arrived
later, accompanied by Mrs. Eccleston
Keane, her lady-in-waiting. They were
met by the Acting Prime Minister and
the Commissioners of the Kingston
and St. Andrew Corporation, Mr. Bird
and Mr. Milton Rodriques and escorted
to the Royal Box.
A few moments later, as the Royal
car in which the Emperor travelled,
accompanied by the Governor-General
Sir Clifford Campbell arrived, the
crowd burst into loud cheering.
Emperor Haile Selassie, a faint
smile showing on his face, waved to
the cheering crowd.
He was invited by the Commission-
er of Police, Mr. A. Gordon Langdon
to the dais from which he received and
acknowledged the salute of the Ethio-
pian and Jamaican national anthems.
HIGH POINT
This was followed by the introduc-
tion of the following persons to him
by the Acting Prime Minister, the Hon.
Donald Sangster, Messrs Bird and
Rodriques, KSAC Commissioners;
the Hon. Dr. A. L. McFarlane, Custos
of Kingston and Mrs. McFarlane, Mr.
Glaister Duncan, Acting Town Clerk
and Mrs. Duncan and Mr. Herbert
Macdonald, Managing Director of the
National Stadium.
The group of orderly well-groomed Ras-
tafarian Brethrens who formed Guard of
Honour for Emperor Haile Selassie
Stadium reception