A spirit of gratitude filled the atmosphere at Ordnance Pier, Princess Street ,where a new boat was handed over to the JDF Coast Guard. Acting Prime Minister Clement Tavares accepted the gift from the US on behalf of Prime Minister the Hon. Donald Sangster.

Published Wednesday, April 5, 1967

New patrol boat named, commissioned…

Gov't is determined law and order must prevail –Tavares

The acting Prime Minister, Hon. Clement Tavares, and the United States Ambassador Mr W. Thomas Beale, headed a group of 100 persons who attended yesterday afternoon’s naming and commissioning ceremony for the Jamaican Defence Force Coast Guard's new patrol boat H.M. J.S. Holland Bay, which was held at the Ordnance Pier, Princess Street.

The 85-foot Holland Bay, which is the first of two patrol boats being given to Jamaica by the United States Government, arrived in Kingston on Good Friday, March 24, from New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Formally handing over the new boat to the acting prime minister yesterday afternoon, the US ambassador said that the Holland Bay was the first of two patrol boats being given to Jamaica by the United States Government under its Military Aid programme. The second boat, H.M. J.S. Manatee-Bay, is expected to arrive in Kingston in July.

Generous gift

Mr Beale congratulated the officers and men of the JDF Coast Guard in the operation of their first boat the H.M. J.S. Discovery Bay and said that they had set high standards for the Holland Bay.

Receiving the new boat, the acting prime minister said: “I am very happy that mine has been the honour and privilege to receive this generous gift on behalf of my Government and to participate today in the commissioning of Jamaica’s new coast guard ship Holland Bay.

"Needless to sa,y I know everyone present is extremely sorry for the sad circumstances which have prevented our prime minister the Hon. Donald Sangster from being with us on this occasion. His keen and sincere interest in the progress and development of the Jamaican Defence Force is well known and all we can do is continue to hope and pray for his recovery.

Tavares said that the gift of the Holland Bay was another of the kind gestures of assistance that the Government of the United States of America had made to Jamaica.

“I wish then, Your Excellency, on behalf of my Government to express our gratitude for this further example of your Government’s generosity,” he said.

The acting prime minister said that the gifts of the two boats would mean a saving to the Jamaica Government of some £80,000 for each boat, and through this expression of goodwill the funds could be used for other purposes.

Mr Tavares said that it was no use maintaining a defence force unless they were prepared to ensure that it was adequately equipped to do its job.

Law and order

“During the past year, events have shown how vital it is in the maintenance of law and order in our country. It is unfortunate that the Government found it necessary to call them into service and we naturally would have preferred not to have had to do so. But I wish to make it absolutely clear that this Government is determined that law and order must prevail in Jamaica, and whenever the Government considers it proper and necessary to do so, the Jamaican Defence Force will be called out to aid the police in carrying out their duties,” he said.

In closing, the acting prime minister said: “Your Excellency, I ask you to convey to the United States Government and their gratitude for this gift.”

Opening the ceremony at 5 o’clock, Brigadier David Smith, chief of ctaff of the JDF welcomed the acting prime minister, the US ambassador and other guests.

The naming ceremony was performed by Mrs Smith, wife of the chief of ctaff.

Smashing a bottle of champagne across the bow of the Holland Bay, Mrs Smith said: “I name this ship Holland Bay. May God bless her and all who sail with her.”

A commissioning ceremony was then conducted by Capt The Rev Orland Lindsay, chaplain of the J.D.F.

Laterc the acting prime minister, the US ambassador and a number of other guests were taken on a tour of the new boat by Brigadier Smith and Lt Omar Brice Copland, Commanding Officer of the JDF Coast Guard.

Guests

The ceremony closed with the lowering of the J.D.F. Coast Guard Ensign at sunset.

Among the guests attending the ceremony yesterday afternoon were Mr Eustace Bird and Mr Milton Rodriques Commissioners of the KSAC Lieut Col. And Mrs D.F. Robinson, Col. Michael deCordova, Lieut Col. R. G. Green. Lieut Col. Nigel Ince, Lieut Col. J. H. Duffus, Capt. Ben Cole of the US Naval staff at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Mr S. G. Fletcher, Mr J.M. Lloyd.

Mr Lorrell Bruce, Mr John Clerk Lieut. Col. H. J. Newton Lieut. Commander W. Hahnert, Naval Attache to the U.S. Embassy, Major H. Watts, Military Attache, Mr James Blake, Mr J. McFarlane, Mr Fred Degazon and Mr Roland Hidalgo of Stewart Seacraft Company in the United States which built the Holland Bay.

Officers of the Jamaican Defence Force Coast Guard and the Reserve Unit along with their wives also attended the ceremony.

Music was supplied by the Band of the First Battalion Jamaica Regiment.

After the ceremony guests were served refreshments on the Quarterdeck of the Coast headquarters at Ordnance Pier.

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