Tracy and Joseph M. Matalon snuggle up for a photo.
My dears, 2009 is definitely off to one fabulous start, with parties' every-which-where as the rich and the famous continue making it destination Jamaica. And so it is, my dears, that we pray and party on.
My daahling dears, it's that time of year again; diplomatic season - when Jamaica plays hosts to diplomats accredited to the court of Kingston, resident and non-resident for the annual hosting of Diplomatic Week.
Diplomats from the world over descend on Kingston for a week of activities. This includes fam-sessions, presentation and acknowledgement of accreditation and, more important, it gives the Jamaican Government an opportunity to advance its diplomatic agenda. It is also a time for a lot of horse-trading, as visiting envoys use the opportunity to lay out their government's position on various issues.
A rounded understanding
It is also a time when many honorary consuls use the opportunity to introduce their non-resident ambassadors to fellow consuls and leaders in the business, civic, political and social arenas. All this, in the hope of providing a more rounded understanding of the socio-cultural and political make-up of the nation.
Well, my dears, with noted businessman Paul Issa being appointed the Honorary Consul of Portugal, and Portugal's non-resident ambassador to Jamaica, Joao Caetano da Silva, visiting, Issa and his very lovely wife, Oriente, threw an official welcoming reception in his honour.
It was hosted at the couple's absolutely fabulous golden triangle residence on Seymour Avenue last Sunday. Held just before the official start of Diplomatic Week, the reception was not merely another of your run-of-the-mill social outings. It, in effect, hosted a toast to the visiting ambassador, and also to toast the strengthening of ties and relations between the two countries, which is the stated aim and objective of Ambassador da Silva's tenure.
My dears, it was a poolside do, and even the evening's sprinkling of showers prior to the start did not put a damper on the mood of the guests.
And so it was, that with a number of Kingston's leading denizens, entrepreneurial icons, and members of the diplomatic corps, it made for a rather intimate gathering.
Perfect outing
Luvs, it proved the perfect outing and then some. Among those guesting, were: Maurice and Valerie Facey; Charles Hanna and his sibling, Dr Mary Hanna; Chris and Michelle Bovell; Anthony and Jeanne Watson; Rev Monsignor Father Richard Albert; Ambassador Vilma McNish, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Ken Baugh; Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni, head of the EU, and wife, Fiela; Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva and wife, Sara; British High Commissioner Jeremy Creswell and his fiancé, Dr Barbara Munske; Canadian High Commissioner Denis and Joanne Kingsley; German Ambassador Jurgen Engel; Marc-Olivier Gendry, ambassador of France; Frederic Meurice, ambassador of Belgium.
Also out were Alexandre Milito Gueiros, ambasssador of Brazil; Honorary Consul of the Netherlands Robert Cartade and wife, Carole; Honorary Consul of Iceland Robert MacMillan and Candy DePass; Honorary Consul of Finland Andrew Issa; Honorary Consul of Slovak Republic Christopher Issa and wife, Kimberly Mais Issa; Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic Jimmy Josephs; Joy Mahfood; Marvin and Rosalee Goodman; Joe and Tracy Matalon; Stephen and Wendy Facey; Peter and Nicola Melhado; William and Franny Mahfood; Wayne Chen; Hugh Croskery; Randy Mair and wife Nicola; Hilton's Frank Rosheuvel; Dr Jonathan Greenland and wife Dr Rebecca Tortello Greenland; Joanna Hart; Brian and Gwynne Stephenson; among others.
It was indeed the perfect 'starter' for Diplomatic Week.
Fiela Mazzocchi-Alemanni (left) and Candy DePass (centre) hang on to every word from Dr Barbara Munske.
Frank Rosheuvel (right) chuckles with Belgian Ambassador Frederic Meurice (second right), while Wayne Chen (left) and Robert Cartade enjoy their own conversation.
Portuguese Ambassador Joao Caetano Da Silva (right) hobnobs with businessmen Wayne Chen (left) and William Mahfood.
Cheery couple Peter and Nicola Melhado hang out at Paul Issa's welcome reception for the Ambassador of Portugal. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Socialite Charles Hanna and style queen Michelle Bovell were also out.