It has become the week of weeks in the diplomatic circles. 'It' refers to Diplomatic Week, where the resident and non-resident ambassadors and high commissioners meet to not only discuss multilateral agreements but also mix, mingle and immerse themselves in the myriad of cultures on show. Monday marked the 11th renewal and, fittingly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Ken Baugh got the proceedings underway.

So, the representatives of the various nations flocked to the Jamaica Pegasus hotel to kick off the week. Dr Baugh marvelled at the fact that 32 non-resident diplomats had turned up, with 13 of them presen-ting their credentials, a record. The business was for the boardroom and the night was for chilling out.

Guests

Guests out included Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, House Speaker Delroy Chuck and wife Patricia, Government members Karl Samuda, Dr Christopher Tufton, Rudyard Spencer and Shirley Williams. Among the diplomats were Argentine Ambassador Mario Pino, his South American counterparts Brazilian Ambassador Alexandre Gueiros, Chilean Ambassador Alfredo Garcia and Colombian Ambassador Dr Ventura Emilio Diaz Mejia. Also out were Haitian Charge d'Affairs Max Alce, Honduran Ambassador Jose Eduardo Norris, Panamanian Ambassador Ricardo Moreno, Portuguese Ambassador Joao Caetano Da Silva, Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda and Dominican Republic Ambassador Filomena Navarro.

Honorary Consul Grantley Stephenson and wife Judith; fellow honorary consuls Lois Sherwood, Jimmy Joseph, Irena Cousins, Robert MacMillan, John, Paul, Chris and Andrew Issa; plus Dr Simon Clarke, Miriam Maluwa, Loxley and Pauline Lindo, Delano Franklyn, K.D. Knight, Donny and Marie Baugh, Josef Forstmayr, Robert Gregory and Wayne McCook.

daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com

Hotelier John Issa (right), also Honorary Consul to Serbia, welcomes his ambassador Milena Jovanovic and her husband Branislav to the Diplomatic Week reception, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston on Monday.

Dennis Lalor (left) is always imparting words of wisdom and even Prime Minister Bruce Golding pays close attention. - Photos by Winston Sill/ Freelance Photographer

Honorary Consul of the republic of Philippines Everoy Chin (left), meets with the ambassadors at the credentials to Governor General of Jamaica cocktail reception at the Hilton Kingston hotel on Tuesday. From left are: the Ambassador of Indonesia His Excellency Banua Radja Manik,Ambassador of Malaysia His excellency Yean Yoke Heng,Ambassador of Philippines His Excellency Dr MacArthur Corsino and Vilma McNish the under secretary for multilateral affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

General Manager of the Hilton Kingston hotel Frank Rosheuvel (right), hangs out with the diplomatic crowd (from left), Brazilian Ambassador Alexandre Gueiros, Portuguese Ambassador Joao Caetano Da Silva, German Ambassador Jurgen Engel and Belgian Ambassador Frederic Meurice.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Kenneth Baugh basks in the company of (from left) Lorna Myers, Janette Stewart and Ambassador Maxine Roberts.

Consul general of Indonesia in Jamaica Tony Hylton (left), makes a point to His Excellency Banua Radja Manik the Ambassador of Indonesia to Cuba (second right), as Valentino Golapatria (right) and Margo Hylton looks on at the credentials to the Governor General of Jamaica cocktail reception at the Hilton Hotel on Tuesday. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer