Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Enjoying life on the sea are (from left) Beverly Levy, Michelle Bovell, Jeanne Watson and Marguerite Lynch. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
The French, my dears, are not only thought of as Europe's reigning continental snobs but it is a reputation and perception that one is hard pressed to think that they have not earned and work very hard at preserving!
And little wonder as this is part of their national cachet. Not to mention international appeal and as they would say it's all a part of that "Je ne sais quoi" that contributes to the French identity, and not to mention mystique.
Anyway, here in the Caribbean, the French have always had and maintained an endearing presence! Whether it be in Haiti, or the Antilles and or smaller islands, they have not only been a colonial power-player in this region, they have also brought their influence to bear in the areas of style and cuisine and, most certainly, in the area of politics. And, from time to time, France reminds the rest of the world that it too is a power to be reckoned with, either through its veto power or otherwise!
Courtesy
And so on Monday last, a French frigate made a courtesy call here in Kingston where its officers called upon the heads of the Jamaica Coast Guard. As is the custom, French Ambassador His Excellency Ambassador Francis Hurtut, used the occasion to host a welcoming reception on board to introduce its captain and crew to Jamaica. It proved, a most charming outing!
To begin with, the pier across from the Cement Company in Rockfort is not the most hospitable of locales to get to for a cocktail reception. This was where La Ventose was docked, however, and with his standing as a senior and well liked member of the diplo-matic community here, the invited made their way from their usual uptown haunts and journeyed out to east Kingston for cocktails and fellowship aboard the visiting French frigate.
Arriving guests being welcomed by Ambassador Francis Hurtut and Captain Vincent Gregoire, they were ushered on to the frigate's upper-deck, and greeted by a phalanx of nattily dressed men and women, looking immaculate in their navy whites, with trays laden with libations and petit fours, plus a virtual buffet of other delectable bon-bon. It all made for a marvellous event, framed as the vessel was by the skyline of the Palisadoes and Port Royal on one hand and the Long Mountain range on the other.
No fluff
There was no ceremony here and no fluff either. This was a reception that was what it was; for people to socialise and with the possibility of expanding their own social spheres. It was made all that more charming for its international flavour as, while French was the preferred language, guests literally spoke in tongues, with English, German, Spanish and Creole being some of the other languages being rolled of the tongues of those guesting. And it was no Tower of Babel, but a fabulously charming and engaging mix of Kingston's leading citizenry, and some members of the diplomatic and consular communities!
Think United Nations with the glitz and glamour of the first world, as the ladies in attendance sported nothing but Couture, the always fabulously dressed Michelle Bovell, just back from her annual European holiday and looking as grand as ever, wore the only amber necklace; whilst the fabulously glamorous Marguerite Lynch looked simply stunning in summery whites, with fashion bellissima grande Beverly Junor Levy opting to forego her trademark black, for a marigold tinged ensemble!
Among the notables spotted were: Prime Minister Bruce Golding; Chief of Protocol Sandra Grant-Griffiths; Head of the EU Delegation HE Ambassador Marco and Fiela Mazzocchi-Alemanni and their son Francesco Mazzocchi-Alemanni; Chinese Ambassador HE Chen Jinghua; Spanish Ambassador HE Jesus Silva; Brazilian Ambassador, HE Cezar De Souza Lima Amaral; Mexican Ambassador Her Excellency Leonora Rueda; Cuban Ambassador Her Excellency Mrs. Gisela Garcia Rivera and husband Jorge Crespo; Argentinean Ambassador HE Mario Jose Pino and his wife Mrs. Fanny Pino; Colombian Ambassador HE Ventura Diaz; Ambassador of the Dominican Republic Her Excellency Filomena Navarro Tavarez and Her Excellency Yvonne Gittens-Joseph, High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
We also saw: Deputy Head of Mission Venezuelan Embassy Mrs. Madai Hernandez; Charge d' Affaires Haitian Embassy Mr. Max J.C. Alce; Ambassador Matthew Beaubrun; Honorary Consul of Korea Yvon Desulme; Honorary Consul of Iceland Robert MacMillan; Honorary Consul of Ghana Patrick Lynch; Anthony and Jeanne Watson; the esteemed Joe Matalon and wife Bernadette McKinley Matalon; Andrea Bickhoff-Benjamin; Pierre and Karlene Lemaire and their son Adrien Lemaire; special assistant to the Prime Minister Pat Reid; French embassy officials including: First Counsellor Mr. Georges Vanin; The new Consul (arrived in the island three weeks ago), Miss Isabelle Menut; Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Adolphe; Miss Gwenaelle Le Gurun of the International Seabed Authority; Mr. Etienne André, from Sogea Satom Jamaica; Mr. Luc Maiche of Total Jamaica Ltd; Mr. and Mrs. Jean Noel Foulard of Bouygues; plus a number of others.
