Who could turn down an invite to a boat named Esmeralda?

That seemed to be the consensus as local and foreign diplomats alike turned up on Saturday, July 4, to board the Esmeralda, a Chilean training vessel docked at Kingston Wharves.

Captain Pablo Lubascher Correa welcomed guests, saying it was a real honour to have them. He said the crew had learned to be true sailors while on-board, as they had all learned from the ship's legacy. He also said visitors to the vessel could learn about his Chilean homeland.

The reception also had local students of Spanish mingling and getting to know the ship and its sailors, some of whom had already learned the latest slang despite only being in Kingston for a few days. A live band later complement the already lively evening.

Guests

Among those out were Cuban Ambassador Gisela Garcia and husband, Jorge Crespo; French Ambassador Marc-Olivier Gendry; Chinese Ambassador Chen Jinghua and wife Xiao Linhua; Senegalese Ambassador Nafissatou Diagne; Belgian Ambassador Frederic Meurice; Haitian Chargé d'Affaires Max Alce; British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell and Dr Barbara Munske; Honduran Ambassador Jose Eduardo Norris; Canadian High Commissioner Denis Kingsley and wife, Jo-Ann; Indian High Commissioner Mohinder Singh Grover; Ramon and Deidre Corvera, Anthony and Jeanne Watson; Charles and Lisa Johnston; Elena Girvan; Wayne Chen; Elinor Sherlock; Robert MacMillan and Candy DePass; Kenny Benjamin and daughter, Brooke; Chris and Michelle Bovell, Hugh and Ouida Dunphy, Chris and Kerry-Ann Reckord; Dennis Lalor; Dr M.D. Sawh and wife, Indera Persaud; Ricardo and Suzanne Allicock; Howard Gregory and Avril Norton.

Former foreign affairs and foreign trade minister, K.D. Knight, looks on as wife Pauline (centre) and Scarlette Gillings catch up at the reception aboard Chilean vessel Esmeralda, held at Pier Two, Kingston Wharves, on Saturday night, July 4.