Mexico's mammoth milestone

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

My darlings, so what do you do when you are your nation's ambassador to Jamaica and you are celebrating the 200th anniversary as an independent democracy? You do what fellow nationals across the globe are doing - celebrate in fine style!

And that was exactly what Leonora Rueda, the Mexican ambassador to Jamaica, did on Tuesday, September 14. She hosted the mother of all diplomatic celebrations at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel to commemorate her country's independence.

It was one absolutely smashing celebration and nothing but, as leading politicos, members of high society, movers and shakers joined Rueda and Mexican nationals domiciled or visiting here in celebrating Mexico's National Day!

Dears, to this end, the Grand Jamaica Suite of the hotel was transformed into an oasis of fabulousness accented by strategically placed tequila bar, another serving of Appleton VX; and yet another serving of red wine, while there were food stations everywhere, boasting Mexican delicacies against the backdrop of the Mexican colours that literally draped every available wall space.

Fabulous night

And then, my dears, there was the Achai - a simply fabulous 22-member cultural ensemble, flown in for the fab bicentennial celebrations, that added loads of pizzazz to what was an already fabulous night of grandeur. Ambassador Rueda, in her brief address to her guests, was as passionate as she was fired up in leading the charge in the celebrations.

Speaking of the historical ties and similarities between the peoples of Mexico and Jamaica, as well as the similarities of both nations' strides towards building firm democracies, she hailed the freedom fighters and patriots of Mexico giving her celebratory wave of the Mexican flag at the end of her address. She exhorted the crowd to join her, and they did, in choruses of "Viva Mexico", and this was a tangible display of Mexican patriotism and dedication.

And what a night!

My dears, it was simply one of splendour. Upon entering the suite, guests were welcomed by a guard of honour formed by the Achai, with the Mexican ambassador heading the receiving line to welcome her guests.

From there it was into the warmth of the beautifully decorated ballroom, where a small army of hotel staff, supervised by manager Nancy McLean, pampered and waited on guests with such professionalism, it was simply divine!

And talk about a social masterpiece! My dears, this was it - the who's who of Jamaica and then some were out.

Guests

Among them: former Governor General Sir Kenneth and Lady Hall; president of the Senate, Dr Oswald Harding, and wife, custos of St Andrew, Marigold Harding; Speaker of the House, Delroy Chuck; Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte (who responded on behalf of the Government and people); Opposition Senator K.D. Knight and wife Dr Pauline Knight; Dr Peter Phillips and wife Sandra Minott-Phillips; president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Seymour Panton; Justice Ingrid Mangatal; Contractor General Greg Christie and wife Janice; Col Trevor MacMillan and wife Dr Olivia McDonald; Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin.

Representing the Diplomatic Corps were: outgoing dean, Spanish Ambassador Jesús Silva, and wife Sara; Russian Ambassador Viktor Zotin and wife Olga; Chinese Ambassador Jinghua Chen; head of the European Union, Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni, and wife Fiela; German Ambassador Jurgen Engel; French Ambassador Marc-Olivier Genrey; Belgian Ambassador Frederic Meurice and his lovely wife, Lydie; Argentinean Ambassador Mario Pino; Nigerian Ambassador Peter L. Oyedele; Ambassador Dr Nafissayou Diagne of Senegal.

Also out were: Maurice and Valerie Facey; their daughter Laura Facey-Cooper and her sibling Stephen Facey; the très elegant Michelle Bovell; Ruby Martin; dean of the Consular Corps, Robert MacMillan, and the lovely Rachael Gore; Kenny Benjamin and his companion, Aloima Suarez; Tunty Barrett and wife Ambassador Madge Barrett; George Fatta; Maureen Shaw; Capt Michael Lyn and wife Thalia; Sameer and Leila Younis; Jennifer Lim and daughter Liz McAdam; Dr Adolf Mena and wife Sara-Lou; Ken and Elaine Chaplin; John and Mary Ramson; E.G. Hunter; Joseph Auxilly and his companion, the lovely Sandra Shirley; Michael Ammar Jr and wife Angie; William and Sandy Tavares-Finson; Horace and Josephine Bogues; Frank Rosheuvel; Johanser Estrada; Clara Godfrey and son James; Phillip and Elizabeth Silvera.

We spotted: Vivian Crawford; Andrea Bickhoff-Benjamin; Robert Russell; the beautiful Allison Barnett-Cross; Lachu Ramchandani; businessman Nigel Pagon; Pat Gooden; Pablos' Rosa Joseph; Storm Saulter and son Nile; the lovely Anjie Harris; Carl Bliss and Dawn Fuller-Phillips; Joe Adduci; the lovely Nagina Newman; former head of the IPP, Rita Zachariah; Peter Tomlinson; artist Kacy Ferguson; the lovely Stefanie Thomas; the very charming Pat Reid of the Office of the Prime Minister; and Vonroy Rochester, of the Mexican Embassy; plus several others.