Diplomats, Archbishop say farewell

THREE heads of mission and the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio were yesterday toasted farewell, as their tours of duty in Trinidad and Tobago ended, and four new ambassadors were welcomed by diplomats. The farewell reception for the departing ambassadors was hosted by Jamaican High Commissioner to TT, Lorne T McDonnough, and his wife Michelle at their Ellerslie Park residence. Those leaving our shores are Canada’s High Commissioner Simon Wade and Mrs Mariev Wade, Guatemala’s Ambassador Julio Herrera and Mrs Rosita Martini, Costa Rica’s Ambassador Isidro Echeverria Perera and Mrs Guiselle Segnini and Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Paul Tscherrig.

Those welcomed in absentia were the Nigerian High Commissioner and ambassadors for Mexico, Argentina and Germany. His Excellency McDonnough, as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, praised each departing diplomat for their service and expertise during their time TT and presented them with gifts of silver platters and other tokens. Both the Costa Rican and Guatemalan ambassadors had the task of establishing their missions here in TT, five and four years ago respectively.

Costa Rican Ambassador Echeverria, described as “being well known for his indefatigable style with very strong views and never shy,” leaves in August to take up a posting in Washington DC as Adviser for Caribbean and Latin American affairs to the Organisation of American States (OAS). He said to the new diplomats, might be thinking about having a good time playing golf and going to the beach, “that will be so, but we work hard and play hard.” Ambassador Herrera leaves for Panama. He said at the end of four years, his only complaint was that “time flies faster.” His Excellency Simon Wade described his stay in TT as a “Wonderful assignment.”