- Norman Grindley/Staff Photographer
Spanish Ambassador Rafael Jover (left) converses with Member of Parliament for Central St. Catherine, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange during a special civic ceremony held at Emancipation Square, Spanish Town, last Thursday. The key to the Old Capital was presented to Cristobal Colon de Carvajal, Duke of Veragua, Marquis of Jamaica, the 20th direct descendant of Christopher Columbus, the Spanish explorer who arrived in Jamaica in 1492.
Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
HOW MANY of us have wondered what it was like in the time of our forefathers and longed for an opportunity to walk in their footsteps?
That is the dream being realised by Duke of Veragua, Cristobal Colon de Carvajal.
The duke, (who should be referred to as 'Your Grace'), is the 20th direct descendant of Christopher Columbus and has been in Jamaica for a week.
The duke has been to different parts of the island, touring the places that his ancestor got to see centuries before. On Wednesday evening, he was the guest of honour at a reception hosted by Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, Rafael Jover at his Norbrook, St. Andrew, residence.
Everyone wanted to meet him and find out a little more about him. The jovial man said that, despite Jamaica not having as much of a Spanish influence as other islands, he was pleased with what he had seen in Seville, St. Ann (formerly known as Sevilla Nueva) and Spanish Town. He was also optimistic that his visit would help to increase the appreciation of Jamaica's Spanish heritage.
"Though there aren't many remnants of this Spanish period in Jamaica, the question is if we can do something together to improve the recogniton of it for the future. And the response is 'A lot'," he smiles.
He believes that the North Coast especially (with its beautiful beaches) has the potential to add some more Spanish flavour and make it even more irresistible to tourists.
So now that he has seen one of the lands his ancestor wrote about, when will he return?
"I don't know when that would be but I would very much like to come back because I feel great here. Jamaican people are warm with everyone, the food is excellent and there are so many things to see in the island," he marvelled.
The duke will depart the island on Monday after a whirlwind tour of the island in which he toured different Spanish heritage sites and received the key to the 'Old Capital', Spanish Town.
The only thing that could have made it even more special? Instead of leaving via a flight, he should have sailed away into the horizon.
