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PHOTO FLASHBACK: Prime Minister of Lesotho, Chief Leabua Jonathan’s visit to Jamaica, May 1974

Published:Friday | May 28, 2021 | 12:34 AMA Digital Integration & Marketing production
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Governor-General of Jamaica, Sir Florizel Glasspole greets Prime Minister Lesotho, Chief Leabua Jonathan at King's House on May 27, 1974. In the background are Mr Louis Boothe, Chief of Protocol, Ministry of External Affairs (left) and Lieut. Eli Graham of the Jamaica Defence Force, acting as aide to the African Prime Minister.
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Prime Minister of Lesotho, Chief Leabua Jonathan lays a wreath of carnation and anthuriums on the Cenotaph in National Heroes Park, yesterday morning. Chief Jonathan is on a five-day state visit to Jamaica.
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Chief Leabua Jonathan, Prime Minister of Lesotho (left) being greeted by Mrs Manley, while the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Michael Manley looks on, on his arrival at Jamaica House in May 1974.
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Prime Minister of Lesotho, Chief Leabua Jonathan (second Left) meets Mr Rex Nettleford, Director of the National Dance Theatre Company and members of the company on May 28, 1974. The Prime Minister and his party attended a lecture-demonstration on the origins of Jamaica dance at the Little Theatre Studio. Others left are Mr Maurice Stoppe (chairman of the National Dance Theatre Company Board of Directors) and members of the NDTC Singers.
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Prime Minister Michael Manley bidding farewell to Chief Leabua Jonathan Prime Minister of Lesotho, at the Norman Manley International Airport on May 30, 1974, at the end of chief Jonathan's five-day state visit to Jamaica. Brigadier Rudolph Green, (centre) Chief of Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force looks on.
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In 1974 the South African government had closed its borders to the largest independent state in the World, Lesotho. Why? The African National Congress had the support of its Prime Minister, Chief Leabua Jonathan. Despite actions that would suggest he was not completely democratic-minded when he declared a State of Emergency when it seemed he would lose an election, Jonathan was very popular in predominantly black countries like Jamaica that wanted to see the back of Apartheid South Africa. Take a look at some of the scenes from Jonathan’s visit to Jamaica.

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