10 things you didn't know about Ginette de Matha

1. She was born in the southwest of France near Bordeaux. This implies, among other things, a good knowledge of wines and foie gras. The foie gras served at the embassy is imported from an authentic farm located only five kilometres from where she was born.

2. Has studied Latin and ancient Greek (a long time ago).

3. Started her diplomatic career at the department of Africa at the French foreign ministry.

4. Was assigned to the French mission to the United Nations in New York City in 2000, as head of the press office.

5. Likes gardening. Her dream: to have a vegetable garden at the embassy. Has recently discovered that this hobby is shared by a lot of Jamaicans. She sees Jamaica as the land of bounty.

6. Two of the functions she is most proud to organise at the embassy are: first, the conferment of the knighthood insignia in the order of the Légion d'honneur (the highest French decoration), to Ambassador Elinor Felix, chief of protocol. And second, the special mention medal in the category of 'fight against impunity' for the prix des droits de l'homme de la République Française to the Jamaican non-governmental organisation, Jamaicans for Justice.

7. Her favourite place in Jamaica is everywhere it is possible to walk peacefully.

8. Hopes Guadeloupian choregrapher and dancer Catherine Dénécy, guest of the fifth Dance Umbrella Festival in Kingston, will come back to the island very soon. Her performances have been stunning and enthralling to all who saw them.

9. Supports every effort to enhance the ties between the Caribbean islands, regardless of what language they speak.

10. Is fond of cinema. The Francophone Film Festival is about to start in Kingston, organised jointly with the Belgian Embassy and the Canadian High Commission, in cooperation with the Alliance Française de la Jamaïque, where the screenings will take place Wednesdays and Saturdays (March 23 to April 6).