Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Venezuelan Ambassador Noel Martinez-Ochoa (left) welcomes Japanese Ambassador Masahiro Obata and wife Hiroko to the National Day shindig.

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

My dears, it may have taken Jamaica qualifying for the World Cup in 1998 to bring out our sense of nationalism and patriotism. However, this was always evident in the nationals of other countries, particularly so in our Central and South American neighbours.

This spirit has served as a catalyst in motivating those nationals to work in tandem with the greater national goals, as against self-interest, in these challenging times.

In this respect, our Venezuelan neighbours have been standing heads and shoulders above others in the areas of nationalism and patriotism, as they forge ahead in creating their own national and cultural identity, in a world where colonial dominance has been replaced by cultural avatars of commercialisation.

And so, nearly 200 years later, as Venezuelans the world over celebrate the 197th anniversary of their independence, marking that anniversary is done with all the pomp and circumstance befitting a fiercely independent people and a great nation. My dears, this signature calendar event on Kingston's social register is easily one of the most respected and anticipated social events of the season, steeped as it is in a history that once saw the great liberator Simon Bolivar taking refuge in Jamaica. And let's not forget the cementing of an even closer bond between the governments of Venezuela and Jamaica in recent years.

Fine outing

And so it was last Monday, with a reception to mark the occasion hosted at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel. Dears, with Ambassador Noel Martinez-Ochoa, and a number of officials from the Venezuelan embassy here, forming an honour guard of a receiving line, greeting and welcoming guests, the stage was clearly set for a fine outing, and that is exactly what it was!

Luvs, no drama here, as this was about celebrating Venezuela's coming of age, and Ambassador Martinez-Ochoa and his cadre of diplomatic staff facilitated and executed with the consummate ease. And dearhearts, it made for a marvellous outing!

Luvs, it was pretty nigh unto a lovefest as those gathered were out to celebrate, and that they did, and in very good spirits, with red wine being the libation of choice, and moderation being the watchword.

Among the notables out were: Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall; Senate President, Dr Oswald Harding and Marigold Harding; Speaker of the House Delroy Chuck; Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie; Security Minister Colonel Trevor MacMillan and wife Dr Olivia McDonald; Energy Minister Clive Mullings; Ambassador Dr Matthew Beaubrun; Ambassador Douglas Saunders; Ambassador Lorne McDonnough; Ambassador Maxine Roberts; Chief of Protocol Sandra Grant-Griffiths; Dr Simon Clarke; head of the European Union delegation in Jamaica, Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni; Spanish Ambassador Jesús Silva; US Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson and Howard Johnson; British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell and Dr Barbara Munske.

Canadian High Commissioner Denis Kingsley and wife Jo-Ann; Dr Ventura Díaz Mejia, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia; Ambassador of the Dominican Republic Filomena Navarro; Chilean Ambassador Alfredo Garcia and wife Luz Santamaria; Senegalese Ambassador Dr Nafissatou Diagne; Ambassador Cedric Harper and Dr Barbara Harper; US Embassy Consul General Ed Wehrli and his fab wife Rose Wehrli; minister and charge d'affaires in the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Hosung Lee; UNICEF's Bertrand Bainvel; Honorary Consul of Iceland Robert MacMillan; Honorary Consul of Lithuania Lois Lake Sherwood; Earl Levy and wife Beverly Junor Levy; Yvon and Cynthia DeSulme; Rear Admiral (retired) Peter and Carol Brady.

Dr Adolfo and Sara Lou Mena; Frank Rosheuvel; Dr Ruth Potopsingh; Dr Jonathan Greenland; Andrea Bickhoff-Benjamin; the charming Jennifer Stanigar; David Fernandez and Carol Portillo; Candy DePass; Betty Valiente McKenzie; and Deputy Chief of Mission, Venezuelan embassy, Madai Hernandez and husband Marcelo Muñoz; and Professor Ulises Franco of the Venezuelan Institute of Culture and Cooperation; plus a number of others.