Goodbye and Farewell

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

And so, after about five years as his country's first citizen here in Jamaica, the tour of duty for Chilean Ambassador Alfredo Garcia, and his charming wife, Luz Santa-Maria, comes to an end.

Belgian Ambassador Frederic Meurice and his wife, the charming Lydie Meurice, have also been guests at a number of farewells in their honour, and hosted their own farewell reception last weekend at their Millsborough residence. That was the preferred event and saw the world of Jamaican power and the social and political elite out to say their goodbyes.

Last Thursday, it was time for the diplomatic community to say their own farewell to the outgoing Chilean ambassador and the departing Belgian ambassador. And this they did in fine and elegant style at the Norbrook residence of the Spanish Ambassador Celsa Nuño and her husband, Alex Crowther.

Luvs, the evening began with a poolside reception at the official residence - a simply marvellously beautiful estate, boasting beautiful grounds and perfectly manicured and well-attended lawns, accented by a lovely copper fountain that serves as a beautiful accent piece and conversation starter due to its unique character.

Unique do

And speaking of unique character, my dears, last Thursday's farewell was indeed a unique do! It was not another run-of-the-mill farewell, as it revealed that Ambassador Nuño and her husband, were old friends of Ambassador Frederic Meurice and his wife. Both served together in South Africa, a number of years ago. They have also rebonded with the ambassador during his tenure here, which made this particular farewell not just another farewell.

The toasts from the hosting ambassador, the dean of the diplomatic corps, and the departing envoys, were moving testimonials to the ties and friendships formed and maintained over the years. But they were also a celebration of the times shared on different continents and cultures, and that made it all the more special.

And so it was my dears, this proved a truly heartfelt and moving reception, made pregnant by the imminent departure of two outstanding envoys and their families, whose bonds of friendships spanned at least two decades.

There were no tears, or public gnashing of teeth however, and while there was a sombre air to the evening, it was by no means a wake. It was truly a celebration of friendship, with loads of premium libations and delightful nibbles to make light of what could be an emotionally taxing outing.

Cocktails and acknowledgements out of the way, guests were then invited to join the hosts on their covered terrace for what proved a sumptuous fare, prepared by her husband, Alex. And dears, we are talking a cosmopolitan fare here of the gourmet order, and it made for a perfect dinner party.

Dears, it was a case of a dinner and a reception and it made for a beautiful occasion as it was indeed a rather intimate outing, restricted to members of the diplomatic community and a shortlist of friends of the outgoing envoys.

Among those who came out to bid farewell were
dean of the diplomatic corps, Noel Martinez Ochoa of
Venezuela and his wife, Carmen; ambassador of the
Russian Federation, Vladimir Polenov; Japanese
Ambassador Hiroshi Yamaguchi and his wife, Yoko;
outgoing Canadian High Commissioner Stephen Hallihan
and his wife, Cathy Hallihan; outgoing Indian High
Commissioner His Excellency Mohinder Grover; German
Ambassador Josef Beck; French Ambassador
Ginette de Matha; South African High Commissioner
Mathu Joyini; the new Nigerian high commissioner,
Olatokunboh Kamson, and wife the stately and regal
Gbemisola Kamosn; Brazilian Ambassador Dr
Antonio DaCosta Silva Neto and his wife the lovely
Sylvia Ruschel de Leonie-Ramos. Also the new Argentine
ambassador, Ariel Fernandez; Colombian Ambassador
Dr Luis Guillermo Martínez-Fernandez; Ambassador
Jose Tomas Ares German, of the Dominican Republic;
High Commissioner Cedric Harper of St Kitts and
Nevis; high commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Iva
Gloudon; ambassador of the Republic of Panama, Jorge
Constantino; Ambassador Maxine Roberts and
her sister, the charming Valerie; Contractor General
Greg Christie; director of Bilateral Relations
Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade,
Ricardo Allicock and his wife,
Suzanne; Victoria Tur Gomez,
deputy head of mission, Spanish Embassy; deputy head of mission of
Chile, Enzo Barra; honorary consul of The Kingdom of
Thailand, Thalia Lyn, and husband
Captain Michael Lyn, Dr Dhiru
Tanna and his wife, Laura Tanna;
David Stone of the United States Embassy;
Helen Jenkinson and Brian Morris
of the European Union. Elena Girvan of the Chilean
Embassy; Kimo Li of the Embassy of the Republic of
Korea; Tanisha Ellis of the Embassy of Costa Rica;
Christopher and Kerry-Ann Record; plus a number of
others.

Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer