Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
LEFT: Out and about at the Venezuela Independence Day are (from left) Betty Valiante, Colombian Ambassador Dr. Ventura Emilio Diaz-Mejia, Cuban Ambassador Gisela Garcia, Venezuelan Ambassador Noel Martinez and Panamanian Ambassador Ricardo Moreno.
RIGHT: Dr. Jean Dixon (right) raises a toast to Venezuela with (from left) Venezuelan Ambassador Noel Martinez, Governor-General Prof. Kenneth Hall and wife Mrs. Hall.

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

My luvs, July is the month of independence - the Canadians (July 1); the Americans (July 4); the Venezuelans (July 5) and the French (July 14).

Curious it is, however, that on the surface, the American and the Venezuelan governments are at political and philosophical loggerheads, as indeed, both people are fiercely loyal to their respective countries. The Americans in a sort of a jingoist kind of a manner; the Venezuelans with a kind of patriotic militaristic zeal, where death is the preferred option, to dishonour. Not unlike their Cuban counterparts in the region.

My dears, the zeal with which the Latins seem to hold their sense of independence from American hegemony is akin to a fire in the bowels, brooking no compromise, and or room for incessant dialogue! Curiously enough though, the government and policies which inform the debate in the international arena where these countries are concerned,are no longer being played out through proxy states as was the case in the '60s and '70s. So today, while governments in the region differ in their world outlook from their Washington counterparts, civility prevails here.

And last Thursday night, Venezuelans celebrated their liberation and their great liberator, Simon Bolivar, here in Kingston. The mood was one of amity and refreshing accord, as members of the diplomatic and consular corps, along with friends and supporters of Venezuela's democracy joined HE Ambassador Noel Martinez Ochoa, his team of officials of the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela, along with Venezuelan nationals to mark the 196th anniversary of the signing of the Independence Act.

Rocky path

To be sure, the path of independence has sometimes been a little rocky, but by and large, the people of Venezuela's faith in their democracy and the intent of their great liberator in his fight for that democracy, has been unshakeable.

And so it is that today, while Jamaica and Venezuela enjoy very warm and cordial bilateral relations, this has always been the case and made that much more so by the establishing of official ties via diplomatic relations!

To be sure, the Venezuelan's presence here today is somewhat muted as one does remember the early '80s when that country's presence here was far more visible. The Bolivian Institute of Co-operation and Culture and its then head, Professor Yolanda Ceballos, were proactive members of the Venezuelan delegation here.

Anyway my daahlings, in recent times the profile of the bilateral relations between the two countries have been raised significantly. And so has the Venezuelan presence at the governmental level, as well as on the social sphere! And as their stars rise, so too does their cachet, with their Independence Day fast becoming one of the most sought after invites.

And last Thursday night, HE Ambassador Noel Martinez Ochoa, hosted a reception to commemorate the 196th anniversary of Venezuela's Independence Act that was indeed, one intimately charming event and then some!

To begin with, the event was hosted at the Terra Nova Hotel's fabulous poolside, a move that facilitated easy access and secure parking. Secondly, the guest list was so managed that there were no hordes of people needed to be herded in any one direction or the other. And so with guests at ease, it made for a far more convivial atmosphere, and then some! And with the suggested dress code being 'elegantly casual', y'all know we are talking a relaxed sense of style here.

Anyway my daahlings, it was a case of the reception in two equally fabulous parts, with part A being a cocktail prelude under the stars and the poolside garden that segued into the air-conditioned pavilion - a party-sized marquee, really decorated to showcase the best of Venezuela, from industry to tourism.

Charming! Charming! Quite charming really, as with the colours streaming from all the right angels; a giant TV screen rolling with scenic images of the country; there was a brief interlude allowing for officialdom, beginning with the playing of the national anthems of both countries. This was followed by an address by Ambassador Martinez Ochoa; a response from Permanent Secretary Jeanne Dixon from the Ministry of Commerce and Technology; and greetings from Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, read by Minister Counsellor, the very charming Madia Hernandez Alvarez.

Making merry

And then, my dears, it was down to the business of making merry. And making merry guests did. With premium libations flowing, a gourmet fare of nibblies, and good company was more than the right ingredients for guests to devolve into plenary tête-á-têtes. And my dears, how! Suffice it to say my daahlings, it was one very charming outing, made more so, steeped as it was in history, style and substance!

Among the notables spotted were: HE Ambassador Douglas Saunders of the Ministry of Foreign Affaires; HE Ambassador Maxine Roberts; Ambassador Dr. Matthew Beaubrun; Chief of Protocol Sandra Grant-Griffiths; Dean of the Diplomatic Corp HE High Commissioner Cedric Harper of St. Kitts and Nevis and wife Barbara Harper; Head of the EU Delegation HE Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni; American Ambassador HE Brenda LaGrange Johnson and hubby Howard Johnson; HE Ambassador Chen Jinghua of China and his trés elegant wife Madam Xiao Jinghua; HE Ambassador Victor Zotin of the Russian Federation; Japanese Ambassador HE Masashirp Obata and his daughter; Indian High Commissioner HE Kailash Agrawal; HE Ambassador Francis Hurtut of France; Belgian Ambassador HE Herman Portocarero and his wife Myriam Portocarero; Spanish Ambassador HE Jesús Silva; Canadian High Commissioner HE Denis Kingsley and his wife the charming Jo Ann; the new German Ambassador HE Jurgen Engel and his wife An Martha ; HE Ambassador Cezar Amaral of Brazil; HE Ambassador Alfanso Silva of Chile and wife Ada Aldana; Cuban Ambassador H.E. Gisella Garc'a Rivera and hubby Jorge Cuespo Vilanueva; HE Ambassador Filomena Navarro of the Dominican Republic.