Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, K.D. Knight (second left) presents the Haitian Ambassador to Jamaica, Raymond Valcin (third left) with the Consular Corp Certificate of Merit for his contribution during his five years in Jamaica. Also in the picture are, from left, Mr. John Ramson, Consul General for Denmark; Mr. Hugh Lawson Shearer; Mr Arnmold Foote, Hon Consul General of Turkey; and Mr Grantley Stephenson, Hon Consul General for Norway. He recently left the island. - Contributed
THE CONSULAR Corps of Jamaica held its first annual banquet at the Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus, recently. The event was held to honour Deans who have made outstanding contribution to the Consular Corps over the past 52 years.
Mr. Arnold Foote, Dean, Consular Corps of Jamaica, announced that the Consular Corps of Jamaica has been accepted as a member of the International Federation of Consular Corps and Consular Associations (FICAC). He explained that FICAC is the largest global consular federation of career and honorary consuls and, in the coming weeks, will be officially occredited to the organisation of American States in Washington, DC. This will enable the FICAC to participate in all general assemblies and summits of the OAS in the future.
Out of the FICAC forum held last month in Cancun Mexico, Mr. Foote announced that Jamaica was chosen to host the international forum for the Americas in 2002. "This is the first time that a forum of this kind will come to Jamaica." he said. "This forum will bring over 150 countries to our shores. It will bring international publicity for Jamaica, promote tourism, open more opportunities for trade and increase our cultural exchange programmes."
Those honoured at the banquet included; Past Dean and Honorary Consul General of Finland, Mr. Deryck Gibson; past Dean, Mr. Laurie Ramson; former Consul General for Norway, Dr. Vance Lannaman; Honarary Consul of Barbados, Mr. Winston Bayley; and Honorary Consul General for Switzerland, Mr. Peter Bangerter.
