The mood at the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations on Friday, Dec. 16 was jovial, as H.E. Rudolph M. Ten-Pow entertained Guyanese, and Caribbean nations at an inaugural Christmas party, since becoming the newest ambassador earlier this year.
The Manhattan office on 2nd Avenue, packed with Guyanese from the United Nations and the diaspora were welcomed and applauded for their work at the United Nations where Ten-Pow alluded that they make up a large part of the international body.
“I heard in some quarters that there are too many Guyanese at the UN, we are over-represented,” quipped the diplomat. “We not only have quantity, we have quality, and there is one such person who symbolizes that quality, who, just this week, Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon commended publicly as one of his most competent and effective senior managers,” said the ambassador.
“We are honored to have with us Catherine Pollard, under secretary general for General Assembly and Conference Management,” he added.
While acknowledging that half of the Guyanese population abroad live in the New York area, the envoy thanked Consul General to NY, Barbara Atherly and her staff for the great work they do to address the needs of the broader diaspora through town hall meetings and outreach initiatives.
Ambassador Ten-Pow, a career diplomat and whom Deputy Permanent Representative Troy F. Torringon noted took on his job with great dedication and dynamism said, “Our job at the mission is more narrowly focused and political, dealing with issues through the UN, but we want you to know that this is your home.”
“This year has been a historic year for Guyana in many ways, and I want to thank the hardworking staff of the mission, especially, Executive Officer Sheila Hazelwood who is also the party planner,”
The diplomat welcomed his CARICOM counterparts and with tongue-in-cheek, debated the region’s diplomats as to which ‘rum’ is the best, while praising Guyana’s El Dorado as the top brand in the world.
However, Ambassador, Penelope Beckles, Trinidad and Tobago Representative to the UN and Dr. W. Aubrey Webson, Antigua and Barbuda Representative to the UN, boasted that their country had the best rum, in a cheerful exchange. In the end, they offered each other a drink.
Ambassador, Ten-Pow who began his career in the Foreign Service in 1980 as a desk officer for Venezuela and later, head of the Frontiers Division, wished the gathering a “Merry Christmas,” and encouraged them to keep their spirits up.
The festivities, was celebrated with steel pan music, presented by Trinidad & Tobago pannist Johlani Roberts and also welcomed Suriname’s Ambassador to the United Nations Henry MacDonald, A. Missouri Sherman-Peter, LLD, ambassador, permanent observer, CARICOM and others.
