Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
Dennis Lalor, a known jocular fellow, demonstrates it again as he jokes with Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda (right) and wife Diana. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
There were sombreros, ponchos and plenty of tequila as Ambassador of the United Mexican States, Leonora Rueda hosted her country's national day reception on Wednesday night.
The Hilton Kingston hotel's 18th floor suite was transformed into a Mexican hot spot of colour and vibrancy as guests celebrated the 196th year of Mexican independence. With mariachi music playing, guests arrived in droves to share in the festivities which meant enjoying sangria (delicious but slightly intoxicating drink), the ever popular Corona beer and some José Cuervo Especial tequila, with the lime wedges and salt to get the real tequila taste experience.
Ambassador Rueda was having the pleasure of hosting her first Independence day. She read her speech in Spanish but provided the English translation on video screen for those who needed a few more Spanish lessons. She stated that though her country had made positive economic moves, they still faced many obstacles would test the strength and ability of the country to respond to the diverse economical and political demands of its people. Jamaica and Mexico have had diplomatic relations for 40 years and Ambassador Rueda chose the occasion to reiterate the solidarity "in the fight against ignorance, extreme poverty and social ills in order to achieve the desired level of development for our peoples".
Among the guests Herman LeMont, German Ambassador Volker Schlegel, Venezuelan Ambassador Noel Martinez, his deputy Madai Hernandez and husband Marcelo Hernandez, Cuban Ambassador Gisela Garcia and husband Dorge Crespo, Honorary Consul to Korea Republic Yvon DeSulme and wife Cynthia, William Tavares-Finson and wife Sandy, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields and Kenya Linton, Ambassador Douglas Saunders, Cedric and Kamla McDonald, Director of Protocol Sandra Grant-Griffiths, British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell and Dr. Barbara Munske.
