Governor General Sir Patrick Allen (left) welcomes Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (second left), president of the United Republic of Tanzania, on his arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport last night. Other members of the welcome party are (from centre) Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Stewart Saunders; Acting Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington; and Dr Ken Baugh, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade. Kikwete is on a hectic three-day visit, which will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Bruce Golding and tours of various places of interest. He will also meet Opposition Leader, Portia Simpson Miller, address Parliament, and assist in tomorrow's 4 p.m. unveiling of the statue of late Jamaican Olympian, Herb McKenley. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

THE USUAL Tuesday sitting of the House of Representatives will not take place today.

Instead, elected representatives are taking a breather as they await the arrival of Tanzania's President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.

Kikwete, who arrived yesterday and leaves on Thursday, will address a joint sitting of the houses of Parliament tomorrow.

During his visit, Kikwete will be touring the Amity Hall Project and the Bodles Research Station in St Catherine on the first full day of a three-day state visit to Jamaica, the Jamaica Information Service has said.

The Tanzanian president and first lady, Salma Kikwete, are set to meet with tourism officials and will also tour attractions in St Ann.

President Kikwete, who is also being accompanied by three members of his Cabinet, is expected to unveil the statue of Jamaican Olympian, the late Herb McKenley, at the National Stadium.

Historical visit

Kikwete's visit marks the second time since 1974 that a Tanzanian leader will be in Jamaica on official business. The first man to do so was President Julius K. Nyerere.

On that visit, which was disrupted by Tropical Storm Fifi, Nyerere addressed Parliament on the apartheid regime in South Africa. He also committed his country's support for a lasting relationship with Jamaica.

During his time on the island, he also opened the Nyerere Community Farm at Cacoon Castle, Hanover, which was named in his honour.

Views on imf

In a later visit to the island - this time as a guest of the People's National Party - Nyerere blasted the International Monetary Fund (IMF), likening it to the usurious Shakespearean character, Shylock.

"Usually, countries go to the International Monetary Fund when they are already in trouble. The IMF never helps, really, to solve the major problems," he said, while arguing that the IMF often worsened the problems of Third-world nations.

"The prescriptions of the IMF are almost always anti-people," Nyerere said.

The visit of Kikwete comes at a time when Jamaica is negotiating another agreement with the IMF.

The country is seeking to borrow US$1.2 billion (J$105 billion) through a standby facility.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding (centre) tours Coronation Market yesterdaywith Digicel Chairman Denis O'Brien (second left) during his visit to the proposed site of the telecom-munications firm's new head office in downtown Kingston. Partly hidden at left is Daryl Vaz, minister in charge of the information portfolio. - Contributed

In this 1974 Gleaner photograph, President Julius K. Nyerere of the United Republic of Tanzania addressing the gathering at the official opening of the Nyerere Community Farm at Cacoon Castle, Hanover. The farm was named in commemoration of his visit to Jamaica. Seated (from left) are O.K. Melhado, chairman of the Social Development Commission; Michael Manley, prime minister; Mrs Nyerere; and Mrs Manley. - File