Jamaica's Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, arrived in Cuba on Sunday for a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties in the health, tourism and agriculture sectors.  Cuban leader Raul Castro welcomed Jamaica's leader officially at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana on Monday with Cuban air, ground and marine troops paying military honour to Golding and his delegation.

Golding arrived here Sunday, accompanied by Jamaica's Vice Prime Minister Kenneth Baugh, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlet, Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton, Health Minister Rudyard Spencer, and Horace Chang, Water and Housing Minister.

In a brief statement to the press, Golding spoke of the necessity to strengthen ties between the two Caribbean countries, especially in tourism.  Mr. Golding said Jamaica has been a dominant player in the region's tourism industry and has expertise which it can offer Cuba in terms of promoting and managing its product.

Prime Minister Golding also met Jamaican youths studying in Cuban universities.  

He told them that those there on scholarships would be covered under the Government's programme of financial support.

"If you are Jamaicans studying here, we have a responsibility to all of you. Therefore, I intend to arrange that no matter what was the source of your scholarship, once you are here as Jamaican students, you are to be included in the programme of financial support that we offer," the prime minister said.