Goldring praises Jamaican diplomat

December 20, 2009

Ottawa – Peter Goldring, Member of Parliament for Edmonton East, paid tribute today to Her Excellency Evadne Coye, the High Commission of Jamaica, who is leaving Canada to take up a new post as permanent secretary in the island’s foreign ministry.

At a Parliament hill luncheon given in her honour, Mr. Goldring praised Ms. Coyne for the work she has done to foster closer ties between Canada and Jamaica. The luncheon was sponsored by the Canada-Caribbean Parliamentary Friendship Group, of which Mr. Goldring is the Vice Chair.

“In her more than two years in Canada Evadne Coye has shown herself to be not only a capable ambassador, something she had already shown in her previous postings in places like Mexico, Belgium and South Africa, but also a friend of Canada,” Mr. Goldring said. “As she has travelled this country she has called on those of Jamaican background who now call Canada their home to become fully involved in their new country, while at the same time not forgetting their ancestral homeland. In encouraging closer ties of trade and tourism she has remembered that the relationship between our two great countries goes back hundreds of years, long before either was an independent nation. Evadne’s time here has been too short and she will be missed. I wish her well in her new posting.”

A new High Commissioner for Jamaica has yet to be announced by the Jamaican foreign ministry.