Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer
Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie (left) greets British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell and visiting Foreign Office Minister, Margaret 'Meg' Munn. - photo by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
And so, the new Gordon Brown-led British administration has decided on not only maintaining ties with its former colonies, it has decided on actively pursuing meaningful bilateral relations beyond that of mere diplomatic niceties. This in manifested in the appointment of Foreign Office, Minister Margaret 'Meg' Munn, as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for the Caribbean.
The charmingly engaging Ms. Munn flew into the island last week, as part of her familiarisation and introductory tour. Not only did she become acquainted with the leading heads of the region,but she also attended the swearing-in ceremony for Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
Well, on the eve of the swearing- in ceremony, the British High Commissioner, His Excellency Jeremy Cresswell, hosted a charmingly intimate cocktail reception at the High Commission's official residence on Trafalgar Road. The reception was as charming and as engaging as it gets.
Doves, the visit of Under-Secretary Munn, on the heels of the recent general election, and the closeness of those elections, made a most interesting backdrop, with the emphasis on building relations in a time of political change.
And change was definitely in the air, as a number of the victorious JLP MPs-elect and key players in the party were in attendance and basking in their victory.
Hosted on the front lawns of the residence and under one really majestic 'Number 11' mango tree, the results of the general election were, for the most part, the topics on most everyone's lips. So, too, were speculations about the expected new Cabinet appointments.
Now, nothing gets the vocal juices of a cocktail party going like a hot topic whose subject matters are known to most in attendance. And this was the case on Monday. With premium libations flowing, and a cadre of pleasant staffers doing the rounds, their trays laden a collection of fabulous tasting bounties. It made for one fine do.
familiarisation session
As this was a getting-to-know-you session, there was a rather brief interlude during which the high commissioner informally climbed atop the garden base of the towering tree, welcomed his guests and presented Under-Secretary Munn. But it was his opening line that had some in stitches as he quipped: "Here we are, one week after the elections, and we are still not quite sure who forms the Government and who forms the Opposition"!
Well, to say that the air was punctuated by nervous laughter all around would probably be the understatement of the season, but that was how it is; like a lingering spell for a few moments, only broken when guests noticed that Under-Secretary Munn, not missing a beat, made her way atop the cut-stone circular base of the tree to give her response to his warm remarks and welcome.
first visit
A very engaging speaker, she proved the belle of the do by speaking of her hopes and aspirations for her tenure, and the relations between her home state and the host.
She noted that this was her first visit to Jamaica, and in her own anecdotal manner, endeared herself with her wit and clarity to those who paid the courtesy of listening.
My dears, it made for a truly fabulous little introductory reception, High Commissioner Cresswell was the consummate host, and then some!
Among the notables were British Labour MP Diane Abbott; Deputy British High Commissioner Paul Nicolopulo and his wife Kareen Nicolopulo; First Secretary Andy Jones; Chief Justice Zaila McCalla and hubby William McCalla; Kingston's Mayor, His Worship Councillor Desmond McKenzie; Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Douglas Saunders and wife attorney Angela Robertson; Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn; American Ambassador HE Brenda LaGrange Johnson and husband Howard Johnson; French Ambassador HE Francis Hurtut; Canadian High Commissioner HE Denis Kingsley and wife Jo Ann Kingsley; outgoing Senator and incoming Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne; JLP MPs-elect Delroy Chuck and Dr. Christopher Tufton; Dr. Wesley Hughes; Col. Trevor MacMillan and wife Dr. Olivia McDonald; Dr. Richard and Dr. Carolyn Gomes; noted lawyer Milton Samuda; Pat Broderick; the charming Donna Parchment and her beau, the debonair Clifford Brown; the lovely Annemarie Barnes; Ethlyn Tate; and Financial Times correspondent Benedict Mander, who was in the island to cover the elections from his base in Venezuela; David Hall; Hugh Croskery and wife Margaret; Percy Hussey and wife Eleanor; and personal assistant to Under-Secretary Munn, the charming Catherine Carr; plus a number of others.
