- Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Cheers! Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva (right) and senators Anthony Hylton (left) and Delano Franklyn raise their glasses to continuing the good relations between Jamaica and Spain at the National Day of Spain reception.

Tesi Johnson, Gleaner Writer

The Spanish call it una fiesta, but a good party by any other name is still a pretty darn good party.

On Wednesday evening, the Norbrook residence of the Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva came alive with appropriate hues of red and yellow, in celebration of the National Day of Spain, which commemorates the Spanish entry into the 'New World'.

Ambassador Silva and his lovely wife Sara were joined by their daughter Olivia in greeting the guests, who comprised members of the diplomatic, business and political community, and noted socialites. After the arrival of the guest of honour, the Governor- General, His Excellency Professor Kenneth Hall, and his lovely wife the Most Hon. Mrs. Hall, the 'fiesta' really began.

While the music of the Jamaica Military Band echoed through the venue, glasses were filled and emptied. The revelry was momentarily halted for comments by the ambassador on the significance of the National Day of Spain. He gave a brief history lesson on the origin of the holiday, and on Spain's establishment of a diplomatic mission in Jamaica.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Anthony Hylton, and his deputy, Senator Delano Franklyn, were on hand to reassure that Jamaica welcomes further collaboration with the Spanish.

Among those who celebrated with Ambassador Silva were the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Cedric Harper and his wife, Dr. Barbara Harper; German Ambassador Volker Shlegel; High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago Yvonne Gittens-Joseph; Ambassador Madge Barrett and husband, Arthur 'Tunty' Barrett; Venezuelan Minister Counsellor Madai Hernandez; Canadian Ambassador Denis Kingsley and his wife Jo-Ann; Chilean Ambassador Alphonso Silva and his wife Ada; Chinese Ambassador Zhao Zhenyu; U.S. Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson;Jonathan Greenland and his wife, Dr. Rebecca Tortello-Greenland; Oswald and Marigold Harding; Mark McKenzie and his wife Betty; Chris and Michelle Bovell; Rodney Davis and his wife Nadra; Drs. Dhiru and Laura Tanna; Michael Anthony Cuff, accompanied by his daughter Nicola; Gerd and Marah Jarchow; Raphael and Robin Comas; and Chris Blackwell.