Canadians call on MoBay
WESTERN BUREAU:
Montego Bay was the centre of attention for at least two of the island's emissaries, who selected to make their presence felt in the Second City recently.
From Tuesday, November 14 to Friday, November 17, the city could easily have declared 'Diplomatic Week', with the appearance of Canadian High Commissioner Laurie Peters and British High Commissioner Asif Ahmad.
Peters hosted a welcome reception for the crew of Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Moncton (HMCS), which was making a working visit, including the wreath-laying ceremony at the Commonwealth Cenotaph at the St James Parish Church, and a visit to the Montego Bay Boys and Girls' Club, where they assisted in the painting of the facility.
Peters, who recently arrived on the island, fÍted the likes of St James Custos Ewen Corrodus and his wife, Daphne; Montego Bay Mayor Homer Davis and his wife, Dr Carleene Grant-Davis, head of the paediatric unit at the Cornwall Regional Hospital; Lillian Crichton, honorary consul of Canada; Lieutenant Commander Russell Hodgson; and several other distinguished guests aboard the ship.
The high commissioner, who joined Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in 2011 as counsellor and head of public affairs, spoke of how impressed she was with Montego Bay's depth and breadth of its ties to Canada.
She noted that from October to December, the HMCS Moncton would be patrolling the Caribbean Sea as part of Operation CARIBBE - Canada's contribution to Operation Martillo, a US joint Interagency Task Force effort.
This is designed to improve regional security and deter criminal activity.
Outlook brings you highlights of the welcome reception.