This, we are sure, Mr Harper understands. He has not the hue nor historic antecedents of President Obama, which, naturally, make Jamaicans prideful in the latter's presidency. Neither does Mr Harper possess Mr Obama's charisma, and nor did his predecessor George Bush.
The absence of rock-star treatment notwithstanding, Mr Harper must know that his visit is important. It reinforces an old relationship with Jamaica and the Commonwealth Caribbean, which, for the most part, has been engaged with mutual respect.
Except, perhaps for a short period during Jean Chretien's premiership, when Canada joined a triumvirate to undermine the Caribbean Community's (Caricom) effort at a constitutional resolution to Haiti's political crisis, leading to the overthrow of Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Globally difficult times
We are, however, long past that rough patch and, if anything, that Canada/Jamaica axis is more important than ever, especially for Kingston in these globally difficult times.
And, there are important things to talk about, including negotiations for a free-trade agreement between Canada and Caricom to replace Caribcan, the non-reciprocal pact Ottawa now affords the region - plans for which were unveiled in Kingston nearly a quarter a century ago by one of Mr Harper's predecessors, Brian Mulroney.
These talks will not be easy, but we expect them to be fruitful. It helps, therefore, that Kingston has responsibility in Caricom for external relations.
Jamaica has other reasons, too, for wanting Canada to sustain the health of its economy. Not only does a large number of Jamaicans live in Canada and remit funds, the country also entertains seasonal migrant workers providing a small, but critical pressure valve to this country's unemployment problem.
Moreover, visitor arrivals from Canada, now 25 per cent of all tourists, have grown sharply in recent years - its importance now highlighted by the softness in the US market.
No one-way street
But this economic relationship is not a one-way street. Canada's mining operations in Jamaica and the region have diminished, but its banks, comparatively, find a rich vein in the Caribbean. Moreover, Ottawa sees a potential for increased exports to the region, particularly in the context of a free-trade pact.
There is also a political context to this relationship with Jamaica and the Caribbean that Canada understands well. In the case of Jamaica, Mr Harper knows that diplomatically it punches above its weight.
Moreover, as members of the Commonwealth and partisans of the Westminster club, there is a common appreciation of political processes.
Both Canada and Jamaica/Caricom understand what it is like to live in the shadow of a powerful neighbour that has no compunction, when it deems it in its interests, to exert that power.
So the marching bands and fanfare greetings may not be out for Mr Harper. But this relationship is founded in something solid - mutual respect.
Visits like this also provide the Canadians an opportunity to define an identity separate from their immediate neighbour's to the south.
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