France celebrates
Published:Friday | July 22, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
The lawns and tents were inundated with red, white and blue, but this time the tri-colour theme was for the French.
On July 14, French Ambassador to Jamaica Marc-Olivier Gendry welcomed one and all to an evening that was full of typical French chic and glamour to celebrate the establishment of the French republic. It's been 222 years since the storming of the Bastille (long the symbol of the French monarchy and its oppressive rule). Ambassador Gendry reiterated how deeply Jamaica resounds in the French psyche and, of course, there were good words for Usain Bolt's recent run in Paris and the performance of the youth team in Lille. He even thanked Jamaica for its thumbs up to new International Monetary Fund managing director, Christine Lagarde.
To complement the evening's laid-back vibe, Fab 5 showed its extensive repertoire, going for more sombre, but nevertheless entertaining selections. Guests out included housing minister Dr Horace Chang, Brazilian ambassador, Antonio DaCosta, Haitian Charge d'affairs, Max Alce, Canadian high commissioner, Stephen Hallihan, British high commissioner, Howard Drake, and wife Gill, Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn, Ambassador Elinor Sherlock, Ricardo Allicock, Hugh and Ouida Dunphy, Lois Lake-Sherwood, Igor and Elena Dorofeev, Irena Cousins, Dr Wesley Hughes, Pat Ramsey, Huiping Song, Ramon and Deidre Corvera, Justin and Barbara Felice, Madai Hernandez and Marcelo Munoz, Bruce and Pascale James, Ainsley and Marjorie Henriques, Charles and Lisa Johnston, Marcia Forbes, Arnold and Patricia Foote, Nicole Hoo-Fatt, Brian Heap, Julia Mendoza, Marisa Benain, Roger Hinds, Julian and Sancia Templer and Ronald Jackson.