ADDRESSES
HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT IN JAMAICA
April 1966.
Distinguished members of the Jamaican Parliament, I am glad
today to get this opportunity of conveying some thoughts to
the Jamaican Parliament and people.
The people of Jamaica have a long glorious history. The Jamaican
people have struggled to attain their independence and since
independence the Jamaican people in an exemplary national
unity have gone on to bring further abundance and progress
to themselves. Because I know of the history of these wonderful
people and because I know of the sentiments the people of
Jamaica entertain for the Ethiopian people, I have always
wished to come and visit Jamaica. Now, thank God, this wish
of mine has been fulfilled.
Upon arrival in Jamaica, I have seen more than I have expected.
I have seen the progress of the people and I have seen their
determination to march forward in unity towards greater progress.
I have also witnessed personally the extent of the feeling
of the Jamaican people for the Ethiopian people. Again I wish
to take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to the Government
and people of Jamaica for the wonderful reception that was
accorded to me.
Our relations with the Jamaican people, as I have said already,
is not of present origin. At a time when the Ethiopian people
bore aggression, harsh aggression, the people of Jamaica showed
their concern and sympathy to the Ethiopian people and have
in this way provided us with encouragement regarding which
the Ethiopian people shall be forever grateful.
Since I arrived in Jamaica, I was able to witness myself
that these feelings of sympathy that had existed then have
continued, and even now there is a greater desire to establish
a closer relation with the people of Ethiopia.
The relations, in a broader sense, between the people of
Jamaica and the people of Ethiopia and Africa are deep and
abiding. We have all struggled for independence and have achieved
it now...We have attained an objective that is the basis for
continued mutual cooperation and goodwill.
In addition to this, there is a bond of gratitude, a bond
of brotherhood. The people of Jamaica, by and large, have
originated in Africa. This again gives us another basis upon
which we can contract a healthy relation, a relation that
is not only going to be useful to our respective peoples but
a relation, because of the fundamental similarity between
us, that will in the long run contribute to a better maintenance
of international peace and security.
In addition to this, both the people of Jamaica and the people
of Ethiopia are dedicated to anothers cause, that is the cause
of progress and prosperity. Here again the struggle we have
to undergo, the difficulties we must all overcome, and the
programs we must adopt have much similarity. Thus I say, the
people of Jamaica and Ethiopia have much in common and these
common factors can be used as the basis for even stronger
relations between our two peoples.
The people of African origin have immigrated to many parts
of the world. Some of them have come to Jamaica; others to
other parts of the world. But wherever they may be they have
similar historical experiences and the problems that await
them depend on sympathy, and this can be used by all of us
as the basis for the establishment of greater cooperation
which will be for our mutual benefit.
In addition to this, I also believe that the peoples of Jamaica
and Ethiopia have another important cause in common, that
is the cause of international peace. For much more than means
of warfare, the violation of peace somewhere, must be discouraged
to prevent the utter devastation of the human race. We have
as an important concern that there should not be a violation
of international peace and security.
However, if small countries do not combine all their energies,
if small countries do not put all their weight in one direction
towards the maintenance of international peace, then their
individual voices in today's world would not matter much.
This is precisely why the smaller states, lilte Jamaica and
Ethiopia, have the supreme interest that international peace
and security be preserved. And to this end we have to continue
to collaborate so that our voice on the international scene
would be augmented.
In addition to this, it is quite true that a country can
achieve material progress alone. However, we know from the
experiences of the past that international co-operation tends
to quicken the pace for progress of individual countries.
This is again another area for us to think about and see in
what way we can further expand the relations between the peoples
of Jamaica and Ethiopia. From another fundamental point of
view this is why the Organization of African Unity has been
established. It is because the African continent, which comprises
more than 250 million people, were it to remain divided among
more than 30 states, their individual voices would not carry
weight. It is precisely why, since there is an identity of
interest, we have attempted to include Jamaica also, so that
we can carry this weight in the councils of nations, and also
through the process of co-operation and expanded economic
relations we might be in a position to quicken the pace of
development of the individual member countries of the Organization
of African Unity.
Because the African people are dedicated to the cause of
the maintenance of peace, because the African people are determined
that there should be that material progress for their people,
and because the African people believe in the essential precepts
of democracy, these are the foundations of the Organization
of African Unity. An organization that is based on such a
solid foundation can only bring success to all its endeavours
which will be for the interest and benefit of the African
people, and perhaps also the interest of other peoples.
From the same point of view I say the similarity of fundamental
national interest between our two peoples, that is our good
friendship that has always existed, must be allowed to deepen,
must expand the areas of material and full cooperation in
all ways possible.
We must remember that many states that today represent the
major powers of the world were once weak, were once prey to
other major forces. But, however, through the process of assimilation,
through the process of the realization of fundamental national
interests, and through the process of combination that they
have achieved, they have become the major powers, the powers
that are all-embracing. From the same point of view the people
of Africa in Jamaica who have identical interests should be
able to augment their energies for good by the process of
the establishment of greater collaboration.
I would broadly say wherever there is African blood there
is a basis for greater unity. We must also help each other
in our endeavours to expand education, to raise the standard
of living of our respective peoples. To this end we wish to
signify the appreciation of the sentiments held by the Jamaican
people for the Ethiopian people and as a manifestation of
our sincere friendship, within our very limited means, we
have made an agreement with the Jamaican Govermnent to establish
a school for Jamaicans here. I am confident that all the preliminary
procedures will be concluded so that the construction of the
school will commence within the near future.
Lastly, may God give wisdom and His blessings to the people
of Jamaica. Thank you.
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