By Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
Ambassador Jean-Gabriel Augustin. Nashauna Drummond Photo
WITH A very warm welcoming smile, Haitian Ambassador to Jamaica, Jean-Gabriel Augustin, met me at the door. Behind him I caught glimpses of a very large room; one end hosts two sofas draped in his country's national colours, the other a large desk with a filling cabinet in one corner and a photo of Haitian President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
As I sat I noticed the books on his desk. There were a copy of the Governor-General's autobiography, They call me Teacher; A Jamaican Voice In Caribbean And World Politics, a collection of selected speeches delivered by Prime Minister of Jamaica P.J. Patterson, that was edited by current Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Delano Franklyn; The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) 1973-2003 Reinventing CARICOM: The Road to a New Integration, by Principal of the University of the West Indies Mona, Kenneth Hall, and Shalom 2004 by the Haitian President. An avid reader, Ambassador Augustin explains that he reads everything and is currently in the process of reading all the literature on his desk.
On December 18, 2001, Jean-Gabriel Augustin officially embarked on his duties as the Haitian Ambassador to Jamaica after a 10-year stint in Miami as consular general. On his arrival, he was immediately at home; "Here in Jamaica I feel like a fish in water. We (Haitian and Jamaicans) look so much alike and the beautiful environment, it reminds me of my country." He noted that his homesickness is compensated for by the beauty of the country and the kindness of the people.
An attorney-at-law by profession, Ambassador Augustin was also a teacher for over 10 years. "I'm very happy with what I'm doing which is an extension of what I was doing before; representing and serving my country."
When the Ambassador does get time to 'relax', he can be found with friends at Jazz festivals, or travelling across the island "to be in nature". Speaking of Jazz, he is an ardent music lover.
MEDITATING
"I love music. I will spend an entire Sunday starting in the morning playing classical, 12 o'clock I switch to Jazz and Blues and in the afternoon calypso or reggae or copa music." But sometimes he just relaxes by meditating. He says, "loneliness can be joyful."
Once a 'baller', he played for his high school and the Faculty of Law during his university years. However, for the past four years he has abstained from such activities along with lawn tennis due to a knee injury.
MAN FOR THE JOB
Ambassador Augustin entered the diplomatic services in 1991 when the Prime Minster needed someone to bring the Haitian communities together and he was the man for the job. He speaks French, Creole, English and is familiar with Spanish.
He is also very competent in the kitchen. His favourite dish that he likes to prepare is rice and beans with fry chicken and a mix of vegetables to go with it.
He sums up his time in Jamaica so far in one word "lovely".
