Wed | May 15, 2024

Honouring Dr Arnold Foote

Published:Wednesday | March 8, 2017 | 12:00 AMJody-Anne Lawrence
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Rudolph Brown
Host Chilean Ambassador Eduardo Bonilla (right) exchanges a few words with the man of the night, Arnold Foote.
Rudolph Brown
Arnold Foote gets a kiss from his wife Patricia.
Rudolph Brown
Dr Arnold Foote (left) and Lasco's Lascelles Chin greet each other at a reception hosted by the Chilean Ambassador to honour Foote.
Rudolph Brown
Alexisse Chin out to help honour her grandfather.
Rudolph Brown
Charge d'Affaires of Germany Michael Dumke and his wife Nertila smile for our camera.
Rudolph Brown
Dominican Ambassador José Tomas Ares (left) poses for the camera with the lovely couple of Peter Chin and Kamla.
Gladstone Taylor
The gorgeous mother and daughter duo of Lourice (left) and Mala Morrison.
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Last Friday, the Chilean Ambassador to Jamaica, Eduardo Bonilla and his wife Martha, hosted a reception to honour President Emeritus of the World Federation of Consuls/FICAC Arnold Foote II.

Held poolside at the ambassador's St Andrew residence, the event was a gathering of influential individuals and brilliant minds.

The ambassador set the five courses of speech in motion with an appetiser listing a few of Foote's achievements. Among those mentioned were the fact that he received the FICAC medal of honour, medal of distinction and award of excellence. He also instituted the FICAC/UNICEF programme to raise funds for underprivileged children with HIV/AIDS, and even developed the FICAC slogan 'working hard to serve better.'

He was awarded the Sir Robert Balchin Medal that Bonilla read the citation by The Lord Lingfield whom presented the medal. "This medal is a personal one from my family, and goes back to the 17th century and my ancestors, " read Bonilla. . "It is awarded on rare occasions to those who have made a real difference. President Foote, you are such a man. Thank you."

 

Business journey

 

Former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, who remains as charismatic as ever, spoke of Foote's successes - starting with his days at GraceKennedy before he left Jamaica, only to return to build his business from scratch before undertaking his diplomatic endeavours.

Seaga was followed by Minister of Transport and Mining Mike Henry; Dean of the Diplomatic Corps JosÈ Tomas Ares, and Honorary Consul for Norway Grantley Stephenson.

The lovely night could not have ended without the guest of honour expressing his appreciation. Foote spoke of how consular activities were something that he just "lucked into". He expressed gratitude for the honours and the support he received from his colleagues and, most importantly, his wife. The night concluded with more expressions of well wishes and love.