- Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
German Ambassador Dr. Christian Hausmann (second right) and Minister of Information Burchell Whiteman toast German unity with their wives Harriet Huber (first left) and Joline Whiteman. The reception was held at the residence of Ambassador Hausmann and his wife in Jacks Hill, St. Andrew on Friday.
Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
DOVECAKES, 14 years ago, the Berlin Wall - seen as the world's most potent symbol of division and repression in some quarters, second only to apartheid in South Africa, - came a-tumbling down by the force and will of a divided people! It was left to Helmut Kohl, Germanys' long-serving Chancellor, to negotiate a reunification of both Germanys. Well, the talented Helmut Kohl proved an expert statesman and wheeler-dealer. And after months of shuttle-diplomacy, he got the Allies' blessings for a reunited Germany. That was 14 years ago and today German people worldwide celebrate October 3, each year as 'Unification Day'!
Now, last Friday being October 3, Dr. Christian Hausmann, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany and his charmingly lovely Finnish wife, Mrs. Harriett Huber, hosted a reception at their Jacks Hills residence to commemorate the historical day. It proved a beauty of an affair!
Friendly relations
Luvs, we are talking fabulous here, and then some!
Now, the history of friendly relations between Jamaica and Germany goes way, way back! And it has been a history that has seen German nationals serving here as teachers, social workers and technocrats. In addition, there is a student exchange program, through which a number of Jamaica's leading hoteliers receiving their formal hospitality and hotel management training in Germany.
There's also a very large German expatriate population across the breadth of the island (And this is outside of the Germans who came here many decades ago and settled in Seaford Town, Westmoreland).
They have made Jamaica their home and have been active in the development of commerce, the hotel industry, industry and the educational process. No wonder then that 'Oktoberfest,' is one of the most widely celebrated foreign holidays here.
Faultless reception
Since their arrival here however, Ambassador Dr. Hausmann and Mrs. Huber have not only nourished those traditional Jamaica/German ties, they have been actively forging new ones.
And so, last Friday, it was a call to fabulousness and all things German, for the 13th annual 'Unification Day' reception, in St. Andrew, und schatz, es was ganz toll! Pumpkins, we are talking spirited fabulousness here and nothing but!
Hosted on the lounging lawns of the Bracknell Avenue residence, the affair was slated for commencement at 7:00 p.m., but dovecakes, guests began arriving from as early as a quarter to, and by 7:15 p.m., the lawns were awash with some of nation's leading personalities - men in dapper style; the ladies dripping sophistication, and then some! Sweethearts, we are talking grand elegance here, and then some. It was one of those fabulous outings at which the languages were German, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and of course, Jamaican!
It was like that, my dears - faultless!
PANORIDDIM STEEL ORCHESTRA
And for my word, the playing of both the Jamaican and German national anthems by the Panoriddim Steel Orchestra was simply one of those precious moments. It was absolutely memorable! Totally faultless! And fabulous beyond belief!
Spiritual, even! Oh, the beauty of it all! Oh it was music for the soul and absolutely flawless!
It was like that all evening, with libations flowing, the waiting staff efficiently executing their charge, as they kept guests not only replenished, but was only a discreet nod or look away, with trays all laden with Jamaican and German finger foods. The food proved so wickedly delicious, it tested the dietary will of many a guest!
But what a night! Truly a fabulous affair, and then some!
MANY DIGNITARIES
Among the very many dignitaries, socialites and fabulous personalities present, included: Glynne Manley; Dennis Lalor; Emil and Dr. Pamela George; Ambassador Don Mills; Dr. Ralph Thompson and wife Dodi Thompson; hotelier extraordinaire Heinz Simonitch; Chris Bovell; Robert MacMillan, Beverly Levy; Dr. Ossie Harding; Ron and Barbara Sasso; Anthony and Jeanne Watson; social empress Thalia Lyn; Senator Burchell and Joline Whiteman; Senator Bruce and Lorna Golding; MP Delroy Chuck and his charming wife Pat Chuck; MP Mike Henry and his fianceé the beautiful Dawn Chambers; Ambassador Douglas Saunders of the Foreign Affairs Ministry; Head of the European Union Delegation Ambassador Gerd Jarchow; Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Jamaica, Edward Malayan; Chinese Ambassador and Mrs. Zhao Zhenyu; Ambassador Pierre-Antoine Berniard of France and his fabulous Spanish wife Luisa Berniard; Spanish Ambassador Rafael Jover de Mora Figueroa and his fashionable wife Maria Delores; Thomas Tighe and his fashionable Italian wife Louisa Tighe; Mexican Ambassador Benito Andion Sancho and his wife; Cuban Ambassador Francisco Piedra Rencurrell; Peruvian Ambassador and Mrs. Humberto Urteaga, (sadly they leave at the end of the month); outgoing First Minister of the Argentinean Embassy Daniel Pepa and his lovely German wife Heidi Pepa; Honorary consuls Peter Bangerter, (Swiss), and Clelia Barretto de Hunter (Ecuador).
Also out were: Seya Parboosingh; Dr. Mary Sloper; Patrick and Margarita Lynch; sisters the lovely Jennifer Lim and the charming Valerie Marzouca; celebrated Gleaner columnist Dawn Ritch; Derek and Maureen Jones; Dave Banmiller and his companion, the charmingly lovely Michelle Hussey; Mr. and Mrs. Laurie Sharpe; Gerd Dreyer and wife, celebrated fashion designer Elaine Dreyer; George Fatta; Barbara Henriques; Mr. and Mrs. Mark Golding; Holger and Sarah Waehling (the word here is that the two tied the knot in a hush-hush wedding on the North Coast recently); the lovely Kayleigh Malcolmson; Dennis Wheatley; Peter and Lawayne Kohlbusch; Ruddy and Joy McHugh; Rita Zacharia; Clarence Clarke; the charming Mara Mandara; Ulle Bangerter; Gary Cassons; the lovely Christine Lewars; Wolfgang Hohn; US Embassy Political and Economic Officer Rebecca Kimbrell Patrick; British High Commission Third Secretary Mark Waller; and British High Commission Prison Visits Officer, Kerry Graney; plus several scores others.
But, what a beautiful affaire! Make that wunderbar!
Fabelhaft even!
