- WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
Head of the European Union delegation, Ambassador Gerd Jarchow (right), shares a joke with Satya Nandan, secretary-general of the International Seabed Authority. Ambassador Jarchow hosted a reception to celebrate Europe Day, held at Hyperion Avenue, Jacks Hill, on Tuesday, May 9.
Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
THERE WERE thoughts last year this time that when Head of the EU Delegation, HE Ambassador Gerd Jarchow, and wife Mara Jarchow, hosted the annual reception to commemorate European Day, they were hosting their last. The widely-held belief then was that Ambassador and Mrs. Jarchow would be relocating to Belgium or his native Germany.
That was then. One year later, Ambassador Gerd Jarchow still heads the EU delegation here. As is customary, it's that time of the year when the delegation celebrates the historic accord which saw the emergence of a fledgling new super power - the New United States of Europe, rising like a phoenix from the battle-scarred lands and battle-fatigued people, who welcomed the new unity as an instrument to end/forestall periodic wars that would erupt.
STRENGTHENED TIES
The pact creating the European Union was first initialled on May 9, 1950. Some 20 years later, the union established diplomatic offices here. In its 30-year history in Jamaica, their presence has not only strengthened ties between member countries of the union and Jamaica, but has seen a greater appreciation for the union and the role it plays in the nations' continued development. There has also been an appreciation of the nations of the union itself - a process enhanced by the envoys who have represented the union here.
As far back as one can remember, the delegation's heads here in Kingston have served excellently while managing to foster even greater ties with the people of the country through direct contact and outreach programmes.
One such outstanding envoy is current head, HE Ambassador Gerd Jarchow. A German national who made Belgium his home a number of years ago, this career diplomat has not only familiarised himself with the culture and people of this land, but has also taken the time to get to know us and better prepared himself to serve. And serve he has!
END OF TENURE
Unfortunately, Ambassador Jarchow's tenure comes to an end later this year, and with wife, will leave these shores for their home in Belgium.
With this in mind, those gathering at the EU's residence in Jacks Hill last Tuesday evening for the annual European Union Day reception, found that the atmosphere was more than tinged with a touch of sadness as this was to be Ambassador Jarchow's final time hosting the annual EU reception.
So, with the impending departure of the Jarchows lurking in the back of most everyone's minds, the friends, colleagues and associates who were guests found that partying was not easy.
Located in the high-end neighbourhood of Jacks Hills, the Ambassador's official residence represents the grand Jamaican home of yesteryear - fabulous in its graciousness, grand, but not overly so, and free-flowing as rooms are not cubicles and the grounds are laid out to facilitate elegant garden parties, teas and/or dinners.
The annual European Union official reception is a calendar social event, a must-attend for the city's leading citizenry, especially so in more recent years. Ambassador Jarchow has made it so with his charm and warmth of personality.
Anyway, my daahlings, Tuesday night's EU reception was a social-tenner, and then some! A swelleganza even, and my dears, how!
NATION FLAGS
Luvs, guests entered the reception area by ascending a flight of stairs decked on both sides with the flags of the 25 nations now making up the union. At the top these stairs, guests are met and greeted by Ambassador and Mrs. Jarchow and other leading members of the delegation, and then ushered to the lawns and reception area, where the fabulously decorated area ringed by a number of marquees, hosting the night's offering of libations and a gourmet buffet.
Once ensconced in the reception area, guests could not help being captivated by the embracing and ooh, sooo soothing chamber music of the Peter Ashbounre/Rosina Moder Ensemble. It added just the right touch of fabdom to an affair that quietly affirmed with each pouring of a glass of wine, a flute of champagne, a mug of beer or any of the other premium drinks on offer, that here was class act, and then some!
Yes, my dears, it was like that - a class act of the finest and most fabulous order - a garden party with all the trappings of a state affair and, for my word, it made for one marvellous evening, and honeys, how!
Prime time, my dears, and nothing but!
We are talking the social denizens and reigning potentates of business and commerce, dripping fabulousness like everybody's business! Sweet things, we are talking haute eleganza here, and dovecakes, sensationally so!
Honeychiles, there's nothing like an upper St. Andrew cocktail party in full flight to get the social juices a rolling, and pumpkins, this one was, and then some! Dears, we are talking about the grand ladies of haute society, glamour-mavens and style denizens, their attentive husbands, companions and/or escorts, doing the rounds and kissing the night away. Their bejewelled earlobes, necks, wrists and fingers causing the grounds of the residence to light up even more with their dazzling reflection.
Luvs, no attitude here, that's for lesser mortals, only regal-style and haute fabulissimo, and it made for a memorable occasion and then some.
ATTENDEES
Among those out were: Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips and his fab wife Sandra Minott-Phillips; Deputy Foreign Minister Senator Delano Franklyn; HE Ambassador Douglas Saunders; Ambassador Maxine Roberts; German Ambassador HE Volker Schlegel; Canadian High Commissioner HE Claudio and Louise Valle; South African High Commissioner Advocate Faith D' Radebe; outgoing Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner HE Dennis Francis; Chilean Ambassador HE Alfanso Silva; head of the Seabed Authority HE Ambassador Satya Nandan; the wife of the Spanish Ambassador Mrs. Sara Silva; Deputy Head of Mission Spanish Embassy Jaume Segura i Socias and his wife Leonor Socias; Deputy Head of Mission of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Madai Hernandez A; Honorary Consul of Italy Tino Calderelli and his companion, the ultra fabulous Gloria Palomino.
Also present were: Chris and Michelle Bovell; Earl Levy and his fabulous wife Beverly Junor-Levy; Richard and Diana Stewart; Professor Gerald Lalor; Peter and Beverly Rousseau; Mr. and Mrs. John Ramson; Dr. Ossie Harding and wife Marigold Harding; Drs. Dhiru and Laura Tanna; the oh so lovely Joan McDonald; Paul and Oriente Issa; Chris Issa and wife, the ultra gorgeous Kimberly Mais-Issa; Mario Machado and his stunning wife Fiona Machado; the charming Janet Farrow; Digicel's David Hall; Patrick Wong and his companion the lovely Peta-Gay MacMillan; National Water Commission's E.G. Hunter; Gilou Bauer; Oliver Magnus and companion, the lovely Sonita Morin; Anton and Judith Burke; Isle Kessler; Pierre and Karlene Lemaire; Owen Bernard; Lawayne Kohlbusch; Owen and Vanessa Miller; Colleen Falconer; Gernot Papp and his fabulous Ugandan wife Ellen Papp; Rose Hughes; and Oliver Jarchow and his fab bride Floreen Hopkins flying in from Paris for the do.
