Chester Francis-Jackson and Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writers

Humbly accepting the Spanish honour for the Order of Civil Merit for his sterling contribution to the Spanish Jamaica Foundation, Jorge Sales, chief executive officer of MBJ Airport Limited, said he did not deserve this award alone and had to share it with the lady who has stood next to him for the past 34 years, his wife Adela (left). - Photos by Janet Silvera

So, just in case y'all missed it, the Spanish might have lost the battle to the English way back in our colonial past, but today they are definitely the winners of the economic war, as they, unlike the English who were the reigning colonial and post-colonial power, have been quite busy expanding their business and tourism interests here, through direct investments and/or bilateral agreements at the private and public sector level.

So, in a nutshell, while the British have and are retreating politically and economically, the Spanish economic Armada has arrived, and my word, how! And if there were ever any doubts about the intentions of the Spaniards here, their appointment of Jesus Silva, a young, bright, energetic and proactive diplomat, as Spain's First Citizen here, should lay to rest any second-guessing on that score!

My dears, to say Ambassador Jesus Silva and his fabulous wife, Sara Silva, are anything but bullish on Jamaica would be the understatement of the season. Indeed, Ambassador and Mrs. Silva are like a beacon of fabulous light on the diplomatic circle - their presence and interaction putting to shame many of their colleagues who, on the face of it, have resigned themselves to while away their days here in some kind of diplomatic cocoon, except coming out from time to time for those all-important photo-opportunities.

Anyway, my dears, on Thursday evening last, the Silvas threw open the portals to their fabulously appointed official residence in the upscale and very ritzy neighbourhood of Norbrook, in upper St. Andrew, and hosted a most charming and fabulously intimate cocktail reception, to honour Spanish national, Jorge Sales Martinez and his oh-so-charming wife, Adela Martinez, that really was a study in ease and diplomatic fabness, of the finest order.

Now, Martinez is the retiring CEO and chairman of MBJ Airports Limited, the concessionaire for the Sangster International Airport, who takes his leave of that post at the end of June, after a three and a half year stint here, for a new and prestigious assignment in Mexico as head of a 12-airport operation, managed by his parent company, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (GAP).

"The work done by Martinez was a teamwork of people from different nationalities and origins that fitted well together. And he was the magician to put them all together in harmony," said Ambassador Silva as he further lauded him for representing the ACS group of Spain, one of the biggest utilities groups in Europe, which will soon have 75 per cent of the shares of MBJ after buying out other partners shares.

"MBJ has become one of the best airports of the Caribbean and a fundamental tool for making the Jamaican tourism industry an updated and modern industry in leading positions worldwide," he said.

Royal proclamation

Martinez, who has had a long career of 34 years in different countries of the world, leaves Jamaica in June to take up his new post as general manager of a group of airports in Mexico, but will continue his contact with this region, ensuring that strategic links are maintained. With an international résumé of which even the most modest of men could be reasonably proud, Martinez's expertise has seen him serving in places such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, the Middle East and the Philippines, and for the last three and a half years, here in Jamaica, during which he and his team charged with reordering the Sangster International Airport, to standards that would credit the implied international service and status embodied in its name - by all accounts and evaluations, have achieved just that.

Jorge Sales (second right) being congratulated by Denton Campbell (left) of the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), chairman of AAJ Dennis Morrison (second left), and deputy director of the Jamaica Tourist Board, David Shields.

And so, with his mission accomplished, Martinez and his wife of 34 years were presented with the coveted Spanish Order of Civil Merit award making him The Most Illustrious Jorge Sales Martinez by Royal Proclamation and Decree, by His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain.

The proclamation reads: "In as much as I desire to show proof of my appreciation to you The Most Illustrious Jorge Sales Martinez, I have deemed it fitting to grant you by my Royal Resolution of May 8th 2007, the Award, of Commander of Order of Civil Merit of My Kingdom. I therefore, confer upon you the honours, distinctions and use of the insignias which are due to you in accordance with the statues, being confident, that the qualities which distinguish you will enable you to contribute to the greater glory of the Order. And this Testament, which shall be endorsed by My Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, will be noted by the Keeper of Records. Given in Madrid on the 9th day of May in the year 2007.

Martinez distinguished himself as a Spanish national of integrity, competence and humility, attributes which not only stood him in good stead during his service in his other postings, but also kept him in good standing here.

At the reception were (from left) Half Moon's Myrtle Dwyer, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffiths, Glamour Tours' Racquel Anderson, and managing director of Jamventure Tours and Services, Dollis Campbell Williams.

And so it was that on his appointment to the Order of Merit of his Country, the reception to both honour and celebrate him saw a critically hand-picked shortlist of friends and colleagues, from both his professional and social associations, as well as the Spanish Jamaica Foundation, gathered at the home of Spanish Ambassador and Mrs. Silva to break bread, share libations and pay homage to a man who had distinguished himself through service and competence. And it made for a smart and fab little do!

Among those out were German Ambassador Volker Schlegel; French Ambassador Francis Hurtut; Canadian High Commissioner Denis Kingsley, his lovely wife Jo Ann Kingsley and their two beautiful daughters, Marie-Andree and Julie, and their companion Patrice Paquet; Deputy British High Commissioner Nick Nicopulo; Deputy Chief of Mission Spanish Embassy (who read the proclamation) Ignacio Sanchez; Hon. Dennis Lalor; Paul and Oriente Issa; Milton Samuda; Charley Johnston and his fabulous wife Lisa McGregor Johnston; JTB's chair, Dennis Morrison; the oh-so-fabulous Sonia Rickards; Digicel's David Hall; Air Jamaica's Mike Conway; JTB's Deputy Director David Sheilds; Rafael and Robin DeComas; Earl Richards; Colonel and Mrs. Oscar Darby; the charming Myrtle Dyer; Denton Campbell; Jennifer Griffiths; the lovely Dollis Campbell; Hector Jones; Carlos and Amanda Maleonl; and the charming Julia Mendoza of the Spanish Embassy, and others.