KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Queen Elizabeth II, cheered by thousands of flag-waving Jamaicans, today praised the Caribbean nation for displaying 'resourcefulness and good sense' in weathering its economic crisis.
Thousands of Jamaicans packed sidewalks in downtown Kingston to watch as the queen and Prince Philip drove to Gordon House for the speech to parliament marking the former British colony's 21st anniversary of independence.
Driving in an open convertible, the queen waved at the throngs of islanders waving Union Jacks and banners reading 'Welcome to Jamaica, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.'
After personally greeting each member of the 60-seat parliament, the queen praised Jamaica for having 'endured pressures and strains that have stretched its social fabric.'
She said Jamaican 'resourcefulness and good sense' had helped it through the crisis and lauded the government of Prime Minister Edward Seaga for 'notable successes in restoring growth, reducing inflation, rebuilding services and generating new investments.'
Seaga last year managed to halt an eight-year decline in the Jamaican economy, but the island still is burdened by 30 percent unemployment, a $2 billion debt and sagging world markets for bauxite, which provides 70 percent of the island's income.
Queen Elizabeth, who arrived Sunday from London, thanked Jamaicans for 'a warmth of welcome which has only been rivalled by that of your famous sunshine.'
'Everybody likes the queen,' said a Kingston taxi driver on Sunday. 'She's always welcome here.'
The highlight of today's events, at least for many of Jamaica's children, who have been rehearsing for weeks, was a cultural display at the National Stadium with some 5,000 performers.
The queen reportedly asked to see the island's children, and specifically requested they sing a song she heard on one of her previous visits to the island -- 'Long time gal we never see you.'
Sunday's welcome for the queen at Norman Manley International Airport was filled with the sound of cannons and trumpets.
To the sound of a 21-gun salute, the queen inspected an honor guard of the Jamaica Defense Force and greeted members of the government.
Thousands of Jamaicans -- including members of the Jamaica constabulary, who stood at attention every few yards in ceremonial white tunics -- lined the 14-mile route from the airport to see the queen's motorcade.
Many in the crowd waved small British flags.
Queen Elizabeth has visited the former British colony, which gained independence from Britain in 1962, on three previous occasions.
The queen, who is Jamaica's head of state and is represented ceremonially by Governor-General Sir Florizel Glasspole, last visited the Caribbean island in 1975 for a meeting of 45 heads of the British Commonwealth.
Following her three-day stay, she and Prince Philip will fly to the Cayman Islands and then to Mexico.
In Acapulco, the royal party will board the Queen's yacht, Britannia, and will travel up the west coast of Mexico, stopping at three ports, before sailing up the west coast of the United States and Canada.
The longest portion of trip -- Feb. 26 to March 7 -- will be spent in the United States, including one day at President Reagan's California ranch.
