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Brits fête their own

Published:Sunday | February 20, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Minh Pham (right), UNDP's resident coordinator in Jamaica, raps with Marsha Montgomery.
Lord Anthony Gifford (left) has the attention of Paula Llewellyn and Professor Trevor Munroe. - Photos by Winston Sill/ Freelance Photographer
Philippa Buckley (left) and Amanda McLoughlin, members of Mitchell's staff, enjoy an evening away from work.
Ambassador Derrick Heaven (right) makes a point to Courtney Walsh.
British High Commissioner Howard Drake (right) chats with cricket great Courtney Walsh (left) and Ambassador Derrick Heaven.
Deputy British High Commissioner Graham Glover (right) entertains guests (from left) Milton Samuda, Elizabeth Terry and Marjory Kennedy.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green (left) jokes with Contractor General Greg Christie.
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The green lawn was ample replacement for the red carpet.

British High Commissioner Howard Drake hosted a reception on Thursday, February 11 for the visiting United Kingdom (UK) Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell and his team.

Mitchell joked about his tenure in British politics saying "politics can be a wayward career" and quipped that he had been in and out of parliament many times. He really got the gathering rolling when he declared that he was also a banker, the mock groans proving his theory that neither profession is seen in a positive light.

He said that the coalition government was still in its honeymoon stages, but was hopeful they were making progress. He attempted to clear up a few thorny issues, including the air tax, and also reiterated the UK's commitment to the British Broadcasting Corporation's World Service even in light of the discontinuation of its Caribbean service.

He explained that his visit was to learn everything he could about Jamaica and, more specifically, how Britain's development programme can benefit the island. He said three main areas would be targeted: policing/crime, jobs and climate issues. He also expressed hope that the coalition government, the first peacetime coalition for 80 years, would build on the friendship that already exists between Jamaica and the UK.


Guests out included: Police Commissioner Owen Ellington, Chief of Defence Staff Major General Antony Anderson, Major Richard Reese, US Chargé d'affaires Isiah Parnell, Chris Duggan from the Canadian High Commission, Justin Felice, Kevin O'Brien Chang, Scarlette Gillings and Dr Badrul Haque.