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India celebrates achievement

Published:Sunday | May 23, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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Members of Anjele Dance Group entertain guests at the event. photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Members of the Indian delegation, (from left) Dr Maruthadu Sudhakar; Dr Syamal Das; Sheila Sangwan; High Commissioner Mohinder Grover; and Dr Pradip Choudhary at the reception dinner party to celebrate India's election as president of the Council of 16th Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), held at India House, East Kings House Road, on Monday, May 3.
Dr Syamal Das (left), Sheila Sangwan (centre) and Justice Minister, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, in conversation.
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Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

Kingston, Jamaica, has always been a beehive of international activity. Jamaica's national motto, 'Out Of Many, One People', speaks to the diverse nationalities that have lived in harmony from the time Jamaica became a nation to the present when, despite our various religious, political and ethnic differences, we are still a melting pot of harmony.

Many international diplomats have said that the harmony they have experienced while serving in Jamaica will always inform their perspective elsewhere!

And, Jamaicans, particularly residents of the capital city, are particularly proud of their history, contribution and leadership roles, both regionally and internationally.

Consequently, they are hard taskmasters grading international envoys on likeability, contribution and social awareness.

In recent months, Kingston has been singing the praises of Indian High Commissioner Mohinder Grover, who has been lauded as a man of superior intellect. He is also known for his social and diplomatic savvy. His invitations are most sought after as during an evening spent with Grover, whether it's an official function to celebrate India's many achievements or private dinner party/cocktail, guests are guaranteed a charming and civilised outing. Such events are usually punctuated by intellectual discourse and cultural offerings, not to mention a fabulous repast!

And so it was two Monday evenings ago, when Grover hosted a reception at India House, East Kings House Road, St Andrew, to celebrate India's election as president of the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for 2010-11.

dignitaries

Some 250 guests, headed by boss of the ISA, Ambassador Nii Allotey Odunton, joined Grover to toast the occasion. With the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Ronald Robinson, and his charming wife, Karett; Minister of National Security, Senator Dwight Nelson; and Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, headlining the list of dignitaries, it all made for a buzzing do!

And with a cultural programme of a Jamaican ensemble cast performing to Bollywood music, and the latest fusion of Jamaican popular dance forms and Indian traditional movements, guests were simply in awe.

guests

We saw dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador Jesús Silva of Spain; head of the European Delegation Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemani; Russian Ambassador Viktor Zotin; Belgian Ambassador Frederic Meurice; Ambassador José Mario Pino of Argentina; Ambassador Ventura Diaz of Colombia; Ambassador Alfredo Garcia, of Chile; Yuri Gala Lopez, of Cuba; Nigerian High Commissioner Peter Oyedele; Yvonne Gittens-Joseph, Trinidand and Tobago's high commissioner; Security mogul and honorary consul of Ukraine, Kenny Benjamin.

The Indian delegation included: Dr S.K. Das, adviser, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, New Delhi, who was elected president of the council; Sheila Sangwan, joint secretary and financial adviser of Ministry of Earth Sciences; scientist Dr M. Sudhakar of the Ministry of Earth Sciences; and Dr Pradeep Chowdhary of the Counsellor Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations plus a number of others.