- IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Jesus Silva (Left), Ambassador for Spain converses with Jeremy Cresswell, the new British High Commissioner to Jamaica at the High Commissioner's office.
BARELY HERE for three months, Spanish Ambassador, Jesus Silva Fernandez, has already been from Rose Town, Kingston to Riu Negril. Bottom line: he's not wasting any time.
In his first posting as an ambassador, Ambassador Silva is quickly adapting to life in Jamaica. And he's getting a lot of help.
"It is very easy to make contacts. The people seem to be very open to someone coming from abroad, which I have noticed the Spanish investors on the north coast; they were so equally treated," he related.
Though he possesses an architectural flair, he was always keen on working in the international scene.
"I had very early 'international' education. I studied in Germany and from very young, I've been in regular contact with other countries and their cultures so it came very natural to me," he explained. He believes that working in international relations in today's world is essential. Prior to his posting in Jamaica, he was director-general for cultural cooperation and
cultural affairs in the Spanish Foreign Ministry which brought him in contact with Jamaica and the Caribbean.
HONEYMOONED IN JAMAICA
Married for 12 years (they honeymooned here), he has 10-year-old twin boys and a daughter who is eight. The Ambassador is from the southern town of Seville but has family ties in the northern territory of Galicia and the Basque territory. Apart from English and his native tongue, he speaks French and German. Patois, understandably, is giving him a little trouble.
"Whenever they speak to me in Patois, I have to say excuse me?" he chuckles.
With the various Spanish hotel chains investing in Jamaica, Ambassador Silva is in the perfect position to assist the process. He is excited about the US$1.3 billion that will be invested and the thousands of jobs that will be provided for Jamaicans. He visited and stayed at the Riu Negril when he went to see how the work has been progressing on the hotels being constructed.
ECONOMY BOOMING
He related that as recently as 1981, Spain was still among the list of countries that qualified for United Nations aid. Now they are the ninth biggest donor country. The economy is booming and that means foreign investment. The catalyst for the economic boom was tourism and now they want to pass on some of the tips.
"We are receiving over 60 million tourists a year and we have only 40 million people so we're hosting over 150 per cent of our population every year," he declared.
Apart from tourism, he hopes to continue the process of establishing links between Caricom and Spain and to expand the teaching of Spanish. On the invitation of the British High Commissioner, he and the German Ambassador toured sections of Kingston where the Foundation of the Prince of Wales is sponsoring community programmes. He is moved to act in this sector.
AVID GOLFER
"We hope that from our government and agency here, we can help with social policies that are a priority for Jamaica for example, the health system and education," he said.
An avid golfer, he would like the opportunity to try our courses; if he can get from behind his desk long enough. But he's not going to overextend himself to carry out all the desired initiatives.
"I hope that when I finish that I will leave many friends. That will be the best sign for me that I have been useful for my country and for Jamaica."
