Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Keeping the faith. Archbishop of Kingston Donald Reece (centre) with Argentine Ambassador Mario Pino and wife Fanny. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

The land which gave the world football great Diego Maradona continues to score big with Jamaica.

Independence for Argentina, South America's second largest country, was achieved 198 years ago. To celebrate this gargantuan milestone, Argentine Ambassador to Jamaica, Mario Pino, and wife Fanny, hosted a reception at the Hilton Kingston hotel on Monday. The event gave embassy staff the chance to show off the best of Argentina, from its literature to its food. The occasion also marked the 45th year of diplomatic relations between Argentina and Jamaica. The speeches were short and the lyme long.

Guests included Belgian Ambassador Herman Portocarero, Chinese Ambassador Chen Jinghua and wife Xiao Linhua, Spanish Ambassador Jesús Silva and wife Sara, US Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson and husband Howard, Canadian High Commissioner Denis Kingsley and wife Jo Ann, British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell, Dominican Republic Ambassador Filomena Navarro, Colombian Ambassador Dr Ventura Emilio Diaz-Mejia, Venezuelan Ambassador Noel Martinez, Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda, South African High Commissioner Faith Radebe, Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner Yvonne Gittens-Joseph, Chilean Ambassador Alfredo Garcia and wife Luz Santamaria, Panamanian Ambassador Ricardo Moreno and Honduran Ambassador Jose Eduardo Norris.

Also spotted were Tony Ray, Derek Jones, Rear Admiral Peter Brady and wife Carol, Ambassador Douglas Saunders, Hugh and Ouida Dunphy, Ed and Rose Wehrli, Loxley and Joan Lindo, Dr Adolfo Mena, Guillermo Hernandez, Ambassador Raymond Wolfe, Carlo Pettinato, Myrtha DeSulme, Joy McHugh, Dr Simon Clarke, Nicola Crosswell-Mair, Robert Gregory and Courtenay Rattray.

Attorney Derek Jones (left) and Argentine Ambassador to Jamaica Mario Pino exchange greetings.

Monica Roberts (left), Renee Roberts (centre) and little Tashi Nunda don't seem to be camera shy as we spotted them at the Argentina national day reception.

The petite Betty Valiante (left), jokes with Argentine Ambassador Mario Pino and his wife Fanny at their National Day reception.

Attorney Chris Bovell (left) and Hilton Kingston's general manager Frank Rosheuvel share a few minutes before heading to the reception.

Argentine Ambassador Mario Pino (left) and wife Fanny are in a laughing mood and Transport Minister Mike Henry needs no invite to join them.

Charge deAffaires at the Haitian embassy, Max Alce (right), chats with embassy colleagues Rodney Marcellus, minister counsellor and Laury Lamothe, counsellor

Juliet Doyle (right) and Yvette Ellis (centre), staff members at the Argentine embassy, have just enough time to pause for a photo with Doyle's daughter, Jenniel Sadler, as they made sure all went well at the national day reception.

Secretary general of the International Seabed Authority, ambassador Satya Nandan (left), engages Chinese Ambassador Chen Jinghua (right) and wife Xiao Linhua in conversation.