The Consular Corps of Barbados celebrated the Christmas season with a cocktail reception amidst the impressive art of honorary Consul for Italy, Paola Baldi-Lussan at the Lussan Bannatyne home.
United States Ambassador Larry Palmer, European Delegation head Mikael Barford, other heads of international and regional organizations and senior officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade shared the evening with honorary consuls.
It was also a special farewell for Dean of the diplomatic Corps, Brazilian ambassador to Barbados Claudio Appio Aquarone, and his wife Regina who are leaving Barbados for a Cyprus posting after four-and-a-half years here.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Maxine McClean, and host, Dean of the Consular Corps Selwyn Smith, both used the opportunity to pay tribute to Aquarone’s work.
Senator McClean thanked the Aquarones for doing “a lot to improve” Barbados’ tourism.
To the honorary consuls she said, “Your role continues to be important whether it is in terms of fostering cultural linkages, building people-to-people relations, facilitating commercial activity etc…I think we are very blessed to have many persons like yourselves representing their various countries but also in effect representing Barbados.”
