JAMPRO praises Francis - The accolades are coming thick and fast for one of the island's powerful women.
published: Sunday | May 21, 2006

David Faulkes (left) chats with Bunny (centre) and Ricky Francis, husband and son of departing JAMPRO president Pat Francis at her farewell reception.- PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER

PAT FRANCIS, outgoing president of Jamaica Promotions (JAMPRO) was the toast of her colleagues at Devon House on Thursday as she was honoured by those she worked with for over a decade. Francis will be taking up the post of executive director of the International Trade Centre.

Chairman of JAMPRO Joseph A. Matalon praised her for making the organisation more efficient and for opening new frontiers and markets for example the 'Spanish invasion' of hotels. For these efforts she recently received the Commander Of The Order Of Civil Merit from the Spanish Government.

GREAT SKILLS

Former Minister of Development Dr. Paul Robertson who worked closely with Francis during her stint, joked that he sometimes worried about what she would say next in those tough meetings. He acknowledged her "great skills at selling Jamaica." Current Minister of Information and Development Colin Campbell reiterated that her stint "can only be equalled, but perhaps never be surpassed."

Never one to blow her own horn, (and having had a few of these send-offs already) Mrs. Francis admitted she didn't know what she was getting into when she took the job. But she pointed out that she had learned much during the her time as well.

GIFTS

Francis was then presented with two gifts; a painting to remind her of home and one that Matalon said would make her stay in Geneva a little easier. Let's put it this way, it's something that comes in handy because you can't flush the toilet after 10:00 p.m. When she unveiled it as Jamaicans say, laughing spwile!

Guests included former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, Richard Byles, Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva, Gerd and Mara Jarchow, Cuban Ambassador Gisela Garcia, Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda, Tony and Yvonne Ray, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Zhenyu, Bernadette McKinley-Morin, Minister Robert Pickersgill, Brian St. Juste, Natalie Thompson, Aubyn Hill, David Hall, Harry Smith, Carrole Guntley, Deputy Director of Tourism David Shields, Ambassador Douglas Saunders, Anthony Bell and Beverley Lopez.