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A party of languages

Published:Sunday | March 9, 2014 | 12:00 AM
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Dennis Valdez (left) getting a warm reception from Ambassador of the Dominican Republic Dr José Tomas Ares.
It was a family affair for German Corrales with wife, Zully, and daughter, Victoria, who stole everyone's heart.
It's a light conversation between (from left) Junior Dabdoub, Arnaldo Brown, Honorary Consul of Ecuador Clelia Barreto de Hunter, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade A.J. Nicholson, and Chinese Ambassador Dong Xiao Jun.
Arnold Foote (left) and his wife, Patricia, catch up over cocktails with Marjorie Kennedy.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade A. J. Nicholson (left) and Ambassador of the Dominican Republic Dr José Tomas Ares have a candid conversation over cocktails.
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Jody-Anne Lawrence, Staff Reporter

It was a feast of languages at the 170th anniversary of the Independence of the Dominican Republic and celebration of the 50th year of diplomatic relations with Jamaica.

The republic's ambassador to Jamaica, Dr José Tomas Ares and wife, Sheila Ares, were on hand to welcome guests to the Montego Suite of The Jamaica Pegasus hotel. The room was filled with the chatter of various languages as guests greeted each other before the start of the formalities.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade A.J. Nicholson seemed to have been intoxicated by the various languages in the air as he greeted the crowd "Buenas noches", before continuing his speech in English and graciously thanking the Dominican Republic for their work with Jamaica and hoping that it will continue.

Dr Ares spoke briefly about his country's economy and the expected five per cent economic growth for 2014.

After both countries toasted each other, the party went on with the spotlight stealer being toddler, Victoria Corrales, who warmed all the patrons' hearts with not only her beauty, but warm smile, while waving and just hustling about cheerfully.

Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer