Ambassador Norris proudly holds a photograph of his Jamaican father, Stanley Oliver McKenzie, who migrated to Honduras in 1919. -Ricardo Makyn/staff photographer

Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter

Many years ago he was a carefree boy running through the banana fields of San Pedro Sula. Today, he is a man determined to get Jamaicans to speak his language.

Spanish is his mother tongue, English his second language, and while patois may not come easy, Ambassador José Eduardo Norris M. of Honduras has a deep connection to Jamaica.

If at first glance he does not strike you as a typical Honduran, that's because he isn't. Ambassador Norris is part Jamaican as he was born to a Jamaican father and a Honduran mother.

This is a part of his roots he holds close to his heart.

It is no wonder that when the president of Honduras asked him to serve, and presented him with a choice of going to India, Egypt or Jamaica, he chose to come to the land of his father's birth.

"Definitely I chose Jamaica, because it is my country and also I have my roots here and its close to home. My wife and children are so very proud of our roots also," he said with his thick accent.

Born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, his infant years were spent in the fields playing with children his own age as his father, Stanley Oliver Norris McKenzie was employed to the National Food Company there.

The Jamaican culture, especially the value of education, he said was instilled in him by his father, aunts and uncles.

One of 11 children, Ambassador Norris said his father worked hard to ensure that all his children received tertiary education.

"My father taught us loyalty honesty, and belief in the family ... but education and loyalty are the most important things he taught us," Ambassador Norris stressed.

Lesson well learnt

It was obviously a lesson well learnt as after finishing high school, the ambassador studied in Canada for a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and later in Mexico, he did a master's degree in international commerce and business.

After 30 years in the private sector promoting the business of his country, Ambassador Norris is ready to take on the challenges of his first diplomatic appointment.

Since his arrival, on the island last November, the Ambassador has been trying to reach the Jamaican people, learning about their lifestyle, while taking time out to enjoy his favourite sport, soccer (football). He even pointed out that 60 per cent of the Honduran soccer team are of Jamaican roots.

Part of his mission for his four-year tenure,he said, was to promote Spanish in schools across the country.

"I would like to promote to the Jamaicans the interest to speak Spanish ... In the globalisation system, Jamaica has to take a look to the Central and South American countries to increase cultural and business relations," Ambassador Norris points out.

"We are trying to see if we can give some scholarships for some Jamaican students in our country for 1-6 years to learn the language and return to Jamaica."

Greatest challenge

Promoting business between Jamaica and Honduras is of great importance to Ambassador Norris and he said this had been his greatest challenge so far.

Noting that between 70 and 80 per cent of seafood consumed in Jamaica is from Honduras, the Ambassador said that he would seek to promote his country's garment and health service industries.

"We have a good garment industry, good labs, good factories where we produce a lot of commodities that can be sold here in the Jamaican market for prices that will be favourable for the final consumer," he explained.

Promoting tourism

Another area that Ambassador Norris will focus on is that of travel and promoting tourism in his country.

"We would like to share the tourist market with Jamaica, I know that Air Jamaica flies from Europe to Jamaica, so we would like to offer to Air Jamaica a hub in one of our five international airports," he said.

"This embassy is going to be very important because we are trying to make this embassy the headquarters of the CARICOM."

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. So when Ambassador Norris wants to unwind, he takes a trip to the country.

"I like to go to the country. I especially like going to Port Antonio and the Blue Mountains. I like the rivers and mountains."

His favourite parish is Portland, not only for its exuberance and the lush green vegetation that makes him feel close to God, but also because it's the birth parish of his father.

Ambassador Norris has been married to Maria Isabella for 25 years, and they have two children, daughter Christina and son Eduardo Antonio.