A festive time for the Consular Corps

The Consular Corps of Barbados held its annual Christmas Get-Together at the Southern Palms Hotel on December 13, 2022.

The Dean of the Corps, Selwyn P Smith, pointed out that it was an opportunity to pay tribute to the outstanding work done by members of the Consular Corps for their individual countries as well as for Barbados.

“It is a contribution which most of us make every day and sometimes at night, in an honorary capacity.”

Mrs Katheryn Angella Connie Smith, Honorary Consul for Spain, was decorated by the Ambassador of Spain and received the Cruz de Official de la Orden del Mérito Civil (Officer’s Cross of the Order of Civil Merit), for her outstanding work to the Kingdom of Spain.

Dr Philomena Ann Mohini-Harris, Former Honorary Consul to India, received the Order of the Republic of Barbados for her sterling contribution to medicine and distinguished service to the Indian community as honorary consul for India.

Twenty-four countries from across the globe are represented in Barbados and the corps provide invaluable service to both the sending and host country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Hon. Kerrie Symmonds spoke on the important role of Honorary Consuls and indicated his intention to improve their status and ensure that benefits that could be derived through focused collaboration with the governments they represent.

A high point of the evening was the launch of the book My Journey Through the Public Service, written by Dean Selwyn P Smith, a former public servant in Barbados and the region.

The author describes the work as a memoir.

“The book, historical in nature, spans the period 1950 to 2000, and deals with the watershed moments evolving from colonial government to internal self government and Independence. It is a reflection of the state of the country and maybe the region and how we were addressing the issues,” the Dean said.

Mr. Smith treated the audience to an excerpt on his experience of meeting Jackie Opel in Jamaica during his student days and the impact it had on him.

Sir Trevor Carmichael, Honorary Consul for Mexico, who introduced the book, spoke highly of the work and style and recommended it to all present.

Mr. Smith paid tribute to those who made the book possible – his family, editors and Mr. Stuart Gittens who provided some of the focus and impetus to write the book.

The book was due to be in bookshops over the Christmas season. (PR)