Final farewell for Silva

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

And so, after some near five years as Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, Jesús Silva, his lovely wife, Sara, and their three children departed our shores last Saturday on their way to Panama, where he will take up duties as Spain's ambassador to that nation!

By all accounts ambassador Silva's stint here can only be described as a fabulous success, as during his tenure he oversaw and facilitated massive Spanish investment in the tourism sector, with the construction of some 11 new resorts; a rekindling of interest in the Spanish language as the second language; and perhaps, more important, the reigniting of Spanish-Jamaican relations, which led to the visit of Spanish monarchs, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.

Ambassador Silva was such a proactive envoy, his presence and interaction at all levels of the society, made him not just a popular diplomat, but also the beloved of the media. A position, which it is said, rankled at least one of his colleagues, who often voiced his displeasure over the positive press coverage the Spanish envoy received.

Anyway, my dears, on the eve of his departure, on the occasion of the National Day of Spain, the ambassador and his wife threw what can only be appropriately described as a gala reception at their upper St Andrew official residence on Norbrook Road. It was such a smasheroni, it has been the talk of the town since it unfolded! And, luvs, no questioning why, as this was a social masterpiece of the highest order!

To begin with, Ambassador and Mrs Silva do not know how to throw a bad party, but for their swansong, they simply outdid themselves, transforming the south lawns of their 'White Clouds' official residence into a most charming and welcoming oasis of fabulousness occasioned by a giant marquee, decorated to reflect the Spanish national colours, with streamers everywhere; and café-style seating and lounge; chairs and giant fans; and, naturally, red carpet and white-gloved service completed the styling.

We're talking pomp and pageantry here as the Jamaica Military Band provided the music for the occasion, and in full military regalia adding just the right sense of pizzazz to the occasion. The official interlude saw Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Ken Baugh toasting the host country and its representative and lauding him for his effectiveness and tenure. The host, in his response, spoke to the fact that Jamaica and Jamaicans have afforded him and his family the best five years of their social and professional life to date, and for that he saluted Jamaica, and its people and natural beauty!

Then there was the fare: styled for the best, and served up accordingly, catered as it was by: Riu Hotels and Resorts; the Gran Bahia Principe; Iberostar; The Grand Palladium; and Secrets Resorts. We are talking a most scrumptious and an oh-so-complementary fare of fares here - top of the line for the 'A crowd' and nothing but! It made for a simply gorgeous celebration as Champagne flowed like the Rio Cobre in spate. It made for the perfect do!

Guests

And, my dears, the world and his wife were out to bid Ambassador Silva and his family adios, as well as to salute Spain, on the occasion of its National Day! Among those out were Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen; his predecessor Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall; former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson; Senate President Dr Oswald Harding and wife, custos of St Andrew, Marigold Harding; House Speaker Delroy Chuck and Pat Chuck; Security Minister Dwight Nelson; Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry; Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett; Health Minister Rudyard Spencer and the lovely Nadine McKay; Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton and his fabulous wife Neadene; Education Minister Andrew Holness; Energy and Mining Minister James Robertson, his lovely wife, Charlene and their beautiful daughters, Mina and Ava; Gregory Mair; Senator Tom Tavares-Finson and wife Rose; Opposition Senator K.D. Knight and wife Dr Pauline Knight; Robert Pickersgill; the oh-so-fabulously lovely Lisa Hanna; Peter Bunting and his former wife, the lovely Janine Bunting, and their daughter, Emma Bunting.

Also attending were Chief Justice Zaila McCalla and husband Winston McCalla; Ambassador Madge Barrett and husband Tunty Barrett; Ambassador Lorne McDonnough and daughters Kaili McDonnough Scott and Lyndsey McDonnough; Jamaica's ambassador-designate to Venezuela, Cliff Stone, and wife Joan; tourism ministry permanent secretary, the charming Jennifer Griffiths; chief of protocol in the foreign affairs ministry, Ricardo Allicock, and wife Suzanne; the new dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Venezuelan Ambassador Noel Enrique Martinez-Ochoa; Russian Ambassador Viktor Zotin and wife Olga; German Ambassador Jurgen Engel and wife Ana-Martha; French Ambassador Marc-Olivier Gendry; Belgian Ambassador Frederic Meurice and his lovely wife, Lydie; Indian High Commissioner Mohinder Grover; Japanese Ambassador Hiroki Yamaguchi and wife Yoko; Mexican ambassador, the elegant Leonora Rueda; Ambassador Mario Pino of Argentina and his daughter, Mechi; Ambassador Alfredo Garcia of Chile, and wife Luz Santamaria; Cuban Ambassador Yuri Gala Lopez; the oh-so-regal and elegant Dr Nafissatou Diagne, the Senegalese ambassador to Jamaica; Brazilian Ambassador Alexandre Gueiros and wife Gladys; deputy head of mission at the Venezuelan Embassy, Madai Hernandez, and husband Marcelo Munoz; and Alexandra Consten of the German Embassy.

Representing high society, the elite, and the ultra chic were Maurice and Valerie Facey, their son Stephen Facey and daughter Laura Facey Cooper; Christopher and Michelle Bovell; Dennis Lalor; Barclay and Deirdre Ewart; Earl and Beverley Levy; Gordon 'Butch' Stewart; the esteemed Michele Rollins; Kenny Benjamin and companion, the beautiful Aloima Suarez; Robert MacMillan and the lovely Rachael Gore; Robert Cartade and wife Carole Issa Cartade; Charles Johnston and wife, the lovely Lisa Johnston; the très elegant Lorna Myers; the stately Jennifer Lim, her daughter Liz McAdam.

Also out: the regal Janette Stewart; William and Sandy Tavares-Finson; Rear Admiral (ret) Hardley Lewin and wife, Captain Tessa Lewin; David and Tanya Phillips; William Clarke; Dollis Campbell; Cedric McDonald; Paula Azan, her son and daughter-in-law, Omar and Lezanne Azan. Mark Melville; the lovely Avril Norton; Michael and Christine McMorris; Jennifer Grant; Rodney and Nadja Davis; Joe Adduci; the lovely Suzie Berry; Dwight Sangster; Pauline Edie; the gorgeous Novlet Green; the charmingly lovely Nicola Spencer; international track and field phenom Asafa Powell and world beauty Yendi Phillipps; and the beautifully charming Spanish Embassy official Julia Coc Mendoza, who coordinated it all and made sure it was as fabulous as fabulous does!

But what a way to say goodbye!