kingston , jamaica ( ap ) — opening a three - day trip to the caribbean and central america , president barack obama hopes to capitalize on mutual needs in the face of expanding chinese influence and weakening power by venezuela , once the energy juggernaut of the americas .
mr obama will meet representatives of the 15 - member caribbean community bloc .
to the strains of the late reggae star 's one love , mr obama was shown around the sprawling house in kingston that was mr marley 's final home .
yet his travels — first to jamaica barack obama has taken a tour of the bob marley museum in jamaica after becoming the first us president to visit the country since 1982 .
the visit comes amid a perception that obama 's interest in the region has failed to materialize .
his arrival aboard air force one on wednesday made him the first sitting us president to set foot in the country since ronald reagan visited 33 years ago .
but his first stop after landing in kingston was the old victorian - style house in central kingston that mr marley called home between 1975 and his death in 1981 .
u.s. president barack obama , right , accompanied by rep. yvette clarke , d - n , y , walks down the steps during their arrival wednesday evening in kingston , jamaica .
the us president said he was a fan of the musician , telling his museum guide : " i still have all the albums . "