Karl Salmon| Reminiscing diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

THERE ARE some jobs that we looked back on and rejoice with good riddance. And there are jobs that we sometimes reminisce with fond memories. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade was one such memorable employment that taught me life’s lessons in etiquette and good behaviour.

For me, it was another institution of learning.

The head of the Jamaican embassy in Mexico, the late Ambassador Louis Booth, was returning home. He was being seconded to the ministry in a new role as the director general.

We had heard whispers and rumours that the earth shook when he spoke, so Monday morning I was prepared for a flashback of the opening scene of the movie Full Metal Jacket, where the drill sergeant was introducing himself to the new recruits. You should watch that scene.

There he was. He had broken middle age, approaching 60, I guess. He appeared unassuming; not pretentious or arrogant, but soft-spoken. His 5ft 8in frame was draped in a well-tailored dark grey suit, white cotton shirt and a blue silk tie. He wore prescription glasses that magnified the piercing stare he gave you before he spoke. And yet when he did, he had a sort of hushed tone that was deliberate and measured. His smile wasn’t reassuring as sunrise, nor calming as sunset. In fact, it was more like an ominous warning. Nevertheless, I assessed his attire, stature and personality as cautious but welcoming.

To be honest, I wanted to vision him as harmless, but because we were forewarned, or misinformed, about his tyranny, we were on high alert and an uneasy tense breeze blew throughout the ministry when his presence was announced.

The first week in office, Ambassador Booth issued an immediate dress code directive that all males were now required to wear dress pants and a buttoned shirt and a tie. If you forgot your tie, you had to return home for it. Women were directed to wear a buttoned blouse with no more that the top button opened. Skirts should not be worn above the knee.

Image of diplomacy

After a few months, the atmosphere in the ministry became relaxed. We eventually realised that Ambassador’s Booth’s intention was to promote an image of diplomacy, starting with our appearance.

Ambassador Booth secured lunch reservation for staff at The Pegasus hotel, where we were taught the various courses in meals; what wine goes with what meal; the positioning and use of the various utensils, and even how to eat soup.

Every few months, Ambassador Booth would hold staff meetings where he would emphasise the importance of what to say and what not to say, whether we were local or overseas assigned staff. He stressed that what you say was no longer your opinion, but can and will be interpreted as the opinion of the government. He also drilled us about the ‘need to know vs the want to know’ factor when responding to a question.

Ambassador Booth told the staff that because the ministry’s objective is the development and maintenance of foreign and trade relations, as well as the promotion and protection of its nationals overseas, we at the ministry were also considered foreign service officers.

This gave us a heightened sense of pride in our roles.

Shortly after this good-gestured announcement, a group of staff members from the various departments, including human resources, formed AJAFSO – The Association for the Jamaica Foreign Service Officers. AJAFSO would meet once per month to plan trips, fashion shows, and concerts. The group even assembled our “best vocalist” and performed an array of songs for the Chinese ambassador and his delegates during one of his courtesy calls on the ministry.

In 1988, Ambassador Booth envisioned a mock conference for staff to gain practice and experience in diplomacy and public speaking. The ministry put this into effect and it was held at the conference centre. The conference required participants to advocate their assigned country’s policies on various trade and economic issues. I was the prime minister of Australia. This was a very valuable learning experience as we had to research our assigned country’s policies and be prepared to face an audience who were armed with questions.

While I was an accountant/third secretary at the Jamaican Consulate General in Miami, the consul general was invited to a City of Miami Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Invitees included city of Miami officials and prominent business leaders. The consul general was not able to attend and the deputy consul general was away from the office. The consul general directed me to represent her at the meeting.

Thank you, Ambassador Booth.

Ambassador Booth had his share of detractors. Some saw him as an authoritarian who wanted to make sweeping changes too soon. But in an abstract sense of the word authoritarian, he favoured or enforced strict obedience to protocol and authority, at the expense of personal freedom.

I am confident that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has since evolved positively following Ambassador Booth’s departure and passing. I trust that some of his implementations for a structured development and guidance policy for foreign service officers is still in effect or have been improved on.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade remains an elite agency of the Government of Jamaica. Through a foreigner’s eyes, the ministry is seen as the envoy for the country’s economic, political, trade and social stability. It is paramount that the country be well represented.

Karl Salmon is a former Jamaic an Foreign Service officer now living in Canada. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com