10 Things We Did Not Know About Mexican Ambassador

There are diplomats in name and title and then there are diplomats who not only understand the essence and core of their office, they are exemplars of the diplomatic essence in style, manner and execution of their official engagements and social obligations.

It is said of the Mexican Ambassador Gerardo Lozano, he is the pre-eminent diplomat. And such an endorsement from one's diplomatic colleagues is no easy feat. But it is easy to understand when placed in the context of his professionalism since arriving here in Kingston, in February of 2012.

Today, Outlook Magazine, shares 10 things previously not known about Ambassador Gerardo Lozano, who lists among his pastimes reading, movies, and going to the beach and places of historic worth in the various countries that he visits. He is also interested in the antiquities market as being among his favourite things to do!

1 The ambassador is the fifth child in a happy family with six brothers and four sisters.

2 He has a strong passion for bolero music writers like Agustin, Lara, Pepe Jara, Consuelo Velazquez, Armando Manzanero, Alvaro Carrillo, among others.

3 He possesses an important collection of Mexican traditional toys, gathered by himself and his wife over the last 10 years and enriched with befitting contributions from family and friends.

4 He holds a bachelor's degree in economic sciences, with specialisation in international economics; and two master's degrees: one in economic integration and the other in national security.

5 He started working at the tender age of 15 at the State Company for Energy, while pursuing his high- school studies.

6 He entered the Mexican Foreign Service 32 years ago.

7 He specialised in multilateral economic affairs for the first 15 years of his professional services. He was first assigned to the Mission of Mexico to the Latin American Integration Association in Montevideo, Uruguay, then the permanent mission of Mexico to the International Organisms headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the permanent mission of Mexico to the Organisation of the United Nations, headquarters in New York, and the permanent mission of Mexico to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development headquarters in Paris, France.

8 Before his assignment as ambassador to Jamaica and The Bahamas, he was the Mexican ambassador to the Eastern Caribbean with headquarters in St Lucia. He had responsibility for Antigua and Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and Grenadines.

9 He has been married for over 26 years to his lovely wife, Mariza Arciniega, who sacrificed her career in communication sciences to accompany him around the world during his diplomatic career. He is the father of two boys: William and Gerardo Jr. Both are university students specialising in international affairs.

10 He was director for international cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico, and is convinced of the benefits of South-South Cooperation, as what currently obtains and is practised between Jamaica and Mexico. He also enjoys teaching and, whenever he returns home, he dedicates a portion of his time to teaching at different universities.