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MacMillan bids farewell to EU head

Published:Sunday | October 23, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Smiling duo Earl and Doreen Patrick were out for the farewell reception.
Host for the evening Robert MacMillan (second right) makes a toast to his friends, outgoing EU Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni (right) and his wife, Fiela. Joining them is Monsignor Richard Albert.
Patrick Lynch is enjoying the evening with Cathy Hallihan (left) and Thalia Lyn
Host for the Alemanni farewell, Robert MacMillan (centre), welcomes DCP Les Green and wife Annette to the reception
Monsignor Richard Albert (left) reasons with Chris Bovell.
Flashing lovely smiles (from left) are Karen Brown, Anne Rae and Judy Markes.
There's no diplomatic row here as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Ambassador Noel Martinez (left) jokes with colleagues (from second left) South African High Commissioner Mathu Joyini, Chilean Ambassador Alfredo Garcia and Cuban Ambassador Yuri Gala Lopez.
Departing head of the EU delegation Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni (left) has some words for Guardsman Group Chairman Kenny Benjamin.
Tall beauties Stacy Millingen (left) and Sandy Tavares-Finson smile for the camera.
Ambassador Noel Martinez finds something funny as he chats with Michelle Bovell (centre) and Fiela Mazzocchi Alemanni. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
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Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

His advertising work aside, Robert MacMillan is known to throw a good party. And with his good friend, European Union head Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni leaving town, you could bet the mortgage he would host a farewell reception. That he did on Saturday, October 15 at his palatial West Kings House residence. It was a relatively small occasion but huge on sentiments, laughter and camaraderie.

About 8 p.m., the bubbly host took the microphone and told, in a manner only he can use, how he met the Alemannis. It was at a reception he was having for his ambassador (MacMillan is the honorary consul to Iceland) when he spotted the dignified couple. MacMillan cheekily admitted he initially thought Ambassador Alemanni seemed "stand-offish" but reasoned after seeing Fiela, Alemanni's wife, that "if that's his lady, he can't be such a bad guy!" This, of course, had guests cracking up.

MacMillan went on to show how the relationship had blossomed and lauded Ambassador Alemanni's deep commitment to Jamaica, calling him "a real friend who will never turn his back on Jamaica". Ambassador Alemanni, in a brief reply, revealed that six years ago, he and Fiela were looking for a country for him to spend his last posting before retirement. They chose Jamaica, knowing it was a beautiful, luscious country but said what they also found was a hospitable people. he acknowledged that they had spent wonderful years here but would be returning to his hometown (the eternal city, Rome). However, they would also be opening a hotel in Morocco. He then produced a zinger of his own when he said "say the magic word "Jamaica" and you will get 10 per cent off your stay".

"But say the magic, magic words 'Robert MacMillan', and you get an additional five per cent," he said to howls of laughter led by MacMillan, of course. Monsignor Richard Albert joked he's never been to Morocco "but every hotel needs a chapel". But he also said that of all the heads of missions he's met, very few had come with the enthusiasm and dedication of Alemanni. He also asked God's richest blessings on the couple, performing a benediction to 'see them off' on their journey.

Guests out included Russian Ambassador Victor Zotin and wife Olga, Belgian Ambassador Frederic Meurice, Chilean Ambassador Alfredo Garcia and wife Luz, French Ambassador Marc-Olivier Gendry, Cuban Ambassador Yuri Gala Lopez and wife Yaima, Custos of St Andrew Marigold Harding and husband, Senate President Dr Oswald Harding, Deika Morrison, Harold Brady, William and Sandy Tavares-Finson, Sylvia Collister and son Keith Collister, Peter and Stacy Millingen, Andrew Issa, Ambassador Maxine Roberts and sister Valerie, and Nicola Crosswell-Mair.