Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Dean emeritus of the Diplomatic Corps, Cedric Harper (right), presents departing Belgian Ambassador, Herman Portocarero (second left), and his wife, Myriam, with a gift at the farewell reception on Wednesday. - Photos by Peta-Gaye Clachar/ Staff Photographer

Belgian Ambassador Herman Portocarero and his wife, Myriam, were given a hearty farewell on Wednesday at the home of European Union delegation head, Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni.

The Portocareros, first posted here in 1982, returned in 2004 when the embassy was reopened.

Now, they're off to another place they've served before - New York.

They will be in Manhattan, specifically, prompting Ambassador Portocarero to joke that they were leaving one island for another.

Performed brilliantly

Dean emeritus of the Diplomatic Corps, Cedric Harper, said he hoped the ambassador's successor would sustain the drive he fostered, and marvelled that even with a comparatively small staff, they had performed brilliantly.

In his reply, Ambassador Portocarero laughingly stated that anyone wanting to visit them in the 'Big Apple' would have to make reservations.

On a more sombre note, he expressed gratitude at the tremendous support he had received in Jamaica. He said that whenever the New York weather got too cold, the couple would be coming back to Jamaica to see his colleagues on the beach.

Guests included Canadian High Commissioner Denis Kingsley, Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner Yvonne Gittens-Joseph, Nigerian High Commissioner Peter Oyedele, Senegalese Ambassador Nafissatou Diagne, Argentine Ambassador Mario Pino, Honduran Ambassador José Eduardo Norris, Indian High Commissioner Mohendra Singh Grover, Ambassador Richard and Margaret Bernal, Ossie and Marigold Harding, Ambassador Maxine Roberts and sister Valerie, Andrea Bickhoff-Benjamin, Robert MacMillan and Earl and Beverly Levy.

As one fab couple leaves, another arrives. Brazilian Ambassador, Alexandre Gueiros, and wife Gladys at the farewell reception.

United States Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson and Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni catch up on the latest diplomatic news.

Myriam Portocarero (with her ever-present fan) is joined by Dean Emeritus of the Diplomatic Corps, Cedric Harper.

Have a glass of wine with me: Candy DePass (left) and Ana-Martha Engel sit for a chat at the reception.

Marcia Gilbert-Roberts (left), Jamaica's Ambassador to Belgium and the European community, chats with Isabel Menut, charge d'affaires at the French embassy, and Dale Jones from the protocol department of the ministry of foreign affairs.