Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter

It can prove difficult for persons visiting a new country to settle in and make new friends. It is no different for diplomats and expatriates.

However, Liguanea Club is aiming to give these two groups of individuals another means of socialising through the game of tennis.

"Over the years we have been trying to promote stuff at Liguanea Club," organiser, Llockett McGregor, said. "Liguanea is a private members' club and what we are doing is trying to rekindle our relationship with the diplomatic community. This is being done to try and get more members and try to get them more involved with the club."

The club will on Saturday host a tennis social from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., which will be preceded by a cocktail party at the same venue on Friday night.

"What we did is to plan a cocktail party which is going to take place on Friday; a meet-and-greet with all of our members," McGregor informed. "And two, we are having a tennis social/lime on Saturday, where we will invite some of our members to play with them (diplomats and expatriates) just as a means of welcome.

"Members who have been playing at Liguanea Club for 20, 30 years, those are the people that we are inviting."

McGregor anticipates that 20-30 persons, counting members, will participate with the various consulates and embassies, including the Canadian, United States and British High Commission.

Anticipating the event

Counsellor and head, development cooperation, Canadian International Development Agency-Jamaica Office, Marie Legault, who is cooperating with McGregor to try and attract more people to take out membership at the Liguanea Club, especially diplomats, is looking forward to taking part in the events.

"As a newcomer, when you arrive in a new country and you don't know the people it is difficult to find people to play with," Legault shared. "So this is just to make sure that there is a better relationship between the Jamaican players at the club and expatriates and diplomats coming into the country."

The head of CIDA for the past two and a half years added: "I will definitely be playing on Saturday and I am looking forward to it; it will be fun. It is not a competition, just a friendly event."

The tennis matches will be played using a doubles round-robin format, which will see all the participants playing against each other in short pro sets.

ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com