Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer 
Charges d'Affaires at the US Embassy, Thomas Tighe (left), is cracking the jokes to Ambassador Raymond Wolfe and his wife, Sharon at Spain's National Day Reception, held at Norbrook Road, St. Andrew. - PHOTOS BT WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
IT WAS a wise old Hollywood legend who once said, 'Never be the one to follow a good act on stage,' as in doing so one not only runs the risk of being eclipsed by one's predecessor's performance, but also of basking in the applause of your predecessor, mistakenly thinking it is yours when you are lapping up leftovers.
And so it is with each new head of mission arriving here in Kingston to replace a popular retiring head, or one who's been transferred. And in recent years, the 'court' of Kingston has been blessed with a number of not just popular ambassadors, but diplomats, who have endeared themselves to the people with whom they interacted socially, and/or came in contact through official channels. Some go on to establish lifelong friendships, beyond the scope of mere cocktail parties.
Over the years Jamaica has always enjoyed very warm and friendly relations with the State of Spain, and in this respect, the Spanish Government has always emphasised the value of this relationship with the placing of diplomats of the highest calibre, who have all fostered and nurtured these bilateral relations both at the official and social levels, and in this respect, each new ambassador picks up the mantle of his predecessor and so far all Spanish ambassadors of recent memory have all been 'good acts'.
AIR OF TREPIDATION
Notwithstanding this fact, there was somewhat an air of trepidation upon the retirement of former Spanish Ambassador HE Rafael Jover and his wife, the regally elegant Lola Jover, as both had an imperial air about them that reeked of haute style and grandeur. This, however, was soon dispelled as the arrival of their successors, HE Jesus Silva and his wife Sara Silva, he with movie star type good looks and she of equally fabulous stature, ended any and all such trepidation.
And so, having just arrived here in Kingston toward the end of the summer, Ambassador Jesus Silva and his wife Sara Silva have been quietly making the rounds, familiarising themselves with their host country, embassy and government officials, as well as forging new friendships, and settling their children in their new home, with Wednesday of last week, being October 12, celebrated internationally as Spain's National Day, it was time for Ambassador and Sara Silva to host their first official reception.
Over the years, Spanish ambassadors have come and gone, but there seems to be one constant here, for the October 12 celebrations in Kingston, of Spain's National Day, and that is, it invariably rains cats and dogs. Well, pumpkins, this year was no different, well maybe, sort of.
The Norbrook Road official residence of the Spanish Embassy was relatively dry but earlier in the day, the heavens had opened and let go a deluge on Kingston, drenching Norbrook generally and effecting roadblocks across the city.
The residence of the Spanish Ambassador, however, was like a beacon of fabulousness, basking as it was in a rush of floating lanterns and suspended lights all done-up to reflect the national colours of Spain, but done so fabulously, the entire grounds were transformed into a kind of fantasy lounge, as the lawns were ablaze in the colours of red and gold, while teak garden furniture were strategically placed to create the look of resplendent leisure, and an all embracing atmosphere.
And for those who braved the weather, it was another night for pomp and pageantry as a number of St. Andrew's leading socialites and powerbrokers were out celebrating the social, cultural and bilateral ties that now bind us to our first colonial masters.
Dears, for the most part, it was a beautiful evening ladies with attitudes and bejewelled to the nines, gentlemen at ease and sporting shirtsleeves for the most part; the Jamaica Military Band in full regalia; libations flowing and not unlike the downpour earlier; and fabulous finger-food that had guests going mmm and double mmm.
COOPERATION
And then, it happened!
It was Ambassador Silva's maiden speech, and a good one too, outlining areas of cooperation and potential development between Spain and Jamaica, and it probably lasted all of four to five minutes Minister of Development, Dr. Paul Robertson, responded on behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica a solid speech addressing the steps the Government took in addressing the environmental concerns raised by environmentalists in relation to the new resort development being undertaken by Spanish investors.
Now, granted, Dr. Robertson's speech was probably a tad too long, probably lasting all of seven or eight minutes. But y'all would imagine that with this, for the most part, being a gathering of the well-heeled and/or those to the manner born, they would have been able to restrain themselves for the 15 minutes (or less) it took for both the Spanish Ambassador and Minister Robertson to fulfil the obligations to officialdom.
Well, me daahlings, no such luck!
Now, it was not everyone present, but dearhearts, a number of guests indulged in the rudest behaviour known on the cocktail circuit and that is to engage in incessant chatter, to the point and so much so, that it drowned out the welcome speech and reply of the host and the person replying on behalf of the people of this here fine country.
Dearhearts, it was a most unsettling display of behaviour of the common kind and by people who should know better, a factor that made it that more unpalatable. So much so, that a number of guests began shushing the flagrant chatterboxes whose wholly inappropriate chatter not only caused great offence, but also soured the mood of many. But the real problem here is that this was not the first time this simply dreadfully unacceptable behaviour was put on display by some members of the ruling elite.
Dovecakes, to say it left a sour aftertaste in the mouth would be the understatement of the season, so let's not go there. It was, however, a fabulous debut for Ambassador Jesus and Sara Silva, who along with his deputy Jaume Segura i Socias and wife Leonor Segura, and Embassy official Julia Coc Mendoza, formed the reception line, welcoming guests to the official residence, and proved the perfect hosts.
A relatively young man, this is Ambassador Silva's first posting as Head of Mission, having worked previously with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before being appointed to head the Spanish Embassy's operations here in Kingston. The father of three (twin sons and a daughter), declared his intentions of continuing to promote trade and investment during his tenure.
And if last Wednesday's fabulous reception was a barometer by which to judge, Ambassador and Sara Silva will only add to the rich social tapestry that represents social life in this the nation's capital.
Among those out were: Hon. K.D. Knight; Senator Anthony Johnson; Hon. Maurice and Valerie Facey; David and Maria Coore; Mayor Desmond McKenzie; Ambassador Douglas Saunders; the regal Susan Alexander; Chris and Michelle Bovell; Mrs. Beverly Junor-Levy; Robert MacMIllan; Anthony and Jeanne Watson; Ambassador Dr. Matthew Beaubrun; Jamaica's former High Commissioner to London, Ambassador Maxine Roberts; Capt.(Ret) Michael and Thalia Lyn; the oh so elegant Sue McManus; Drs. Dhiru and Laura Tanna; Dr. Wesley Hughes; Joan McDonald; Patrick and Marguerite Lynch; Rear Admiral (Ret) Peter Brady; Chunky and Jan Lopez; Head of Cable and Wireless Rodney Davis and his charming wife Nadja Davis; Marjorie Humphries; Morin Seymour; Dr. Cezley and Yvonne Simpson; Paul and Becky Stockhausen; Mrs. Patricia Francis; Derek and Maureen Jones; Horace and Josephine Bogues and their lovely daughter Tracey; Dr. Jonathan Greenland and wife Dr. Rebecca Tortello; Mrs. Lisa McGregor-Johnston; Janet Farrow; Clelia Barretto de Hunter; Hugh and Ouida Dumphy; Andrea Bickhoff-Benjamin; Myrtha Desulme; Peter and Donnia Bovell; William Lampert and his charming wife Anna Kaiser.
Also spotted Dean of the Diplomatic Corp, the High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago HE Dennis Francis; Head of EU Delegation HE Ambassador Gerd and Mara Jarchow; Chinese Ambassador HE Zhenyu Zhao and wife Madam Zhao Zhenyu; British High Commissioner HE Jeremy Cresswell and companion Dr. Barbara Munske; Russian Ambassador HE Igor Lebedev and Olga Lebedev; German Ambassador HE Volker Schlegel; His Deputy Mrs Maria Friedrich-Boerger, also out; Belgian Ambassador HE Herman Portocarero and his lovely wife Miriam Portocarero; Canadian High Commissioner HE Claudio Valle and wife the fab Louise Valle; Acting Head of Mission US Embassy Cliff Tighe and wife Dr. Luisa Tighe; Argentinean Ambassador HE Gonzalo Fernandez; Chilean Ambassador HE Alfanso Silva; Colombian Ambassador HE Dr. Kent and Mrs. Cecilia Francis; HE Ambassador Filomena Navarro, of the Dominican Republic; plus a number of others from the consular and diplomatic corps as well as fab society.
