President Jacob Zuma is heading to Jamaica to strengthen relations.(SABC)
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President Jacob Zuma will finally depart for Jamaica today, to begin his official state visit, after tropical storm Ernesto delayed his departure from Brazil after a mandatory refueling stop in that country.
The President is due to strengthen political, cultural and economic ties with Jamaica and to also attend a Grand Gala in celebration of their Golden Jubilee. But while lightning roared and the rain poured, Jamaicans were preoccupied with a 'bolt' of a different kind.
Ernesto lay directly in the President's flight path to Jamaica with the eye of the storm south-west of the island.
Jamaicans are the first to tell that this is no big deal as the rain begins to pour here in Kingston Jamaica.
The dark clouds and haze are tropical storm Ernesto, the main reason why President Jacob Zuma is currently stuck in Brazil awaiting instructions from his pilots as to when he can proceed to Jamaica.
Jamaican officials have told people to take the necessary precautions.
Hotel staff have warned people to stay close to home as the tropical storm system is moving fast and further north into the Gulf of Mexico.
A lot of rain is expected over the next few hours. Jamaicans ignored it for the most part and gathered around television sets across the country to watch Usain Bolt retain his Gold medal in the Olympic 100m dash.
“Jamaica coming in first and second is fantastic, a gold and silver medal all at once. It is also our 50th anniversary and that is the icing on the cake,” says Jamaican, Sharon Barnes-Wilmot.
Michael Smith, another Jamaican, says that the whole nation is celebrating and that Ernesto will not put a damper on the celebrations.
