–after a three-year tenure
THE Honourable Fernando Sandoval, Mexico’s first resident Ambassador to Guyana, bade this country an emotional farewell in a speech delivered at a cocktail reception held in his honour. He had been posted to Guyana three years ago. Preparing to depart, Sandoval took time out to chat with the Guyana Chronicle, for hopefully not the last time, about his work and stay in Guyana.  Below is the brief interview, as well as a short summary of some of the cultural offerings of that embassy over the past three years.

GC: What are your feelings, leaving Guyana after residing here for three years?
FS: My feelings are contradictory. I feel comfortable, satisfied as objectives were fulfilled and the office is working properly. It was an honour to come to Guyana for the first time. I am sad to leave Guyana, as me and my wife, Martha, enjoyed the people and the place.
GC: Can you briefly mention some of the most notable highlights of your work in Guyana?
FS: The most important highlight was that an embassy was established. It was not an easy task: We started from zero: We had to look for a place, buy vehicles, (employ) persons. I have been a career diplomat for more than 30 years. It was an important political signal to send an ambassador to live in Guyana.
GC: What significant breakthroughs have been made in Mexico/Guyana relations during your tenure?
FS:  One of the things I realized is that Mexico is not very well known in Guyana. I wanted to inform people what Mexico is. It is an important country in Latin America, a very important economy. People were exposed to films, gastronomic events; we brought Mexicans to speak about the history.
GC: Are you satisfied with the results of your work in Guyana?
FS: Yes. The most important job was to establish the embassy, which we did the first year. We formed a political relationship with members of the government; it is not only my work but the work of the team. The Guyanese people now know much more about Mexico.
GC:  What were some of the challenges working in Guyana?
FS:  We didn’t know much about Guyana; everything was new. Our diplomatic friends (living for a longer time in the country) were helpful. We were new, it was a challenge. There were technology challenges, as some of the computer equipment was not to be found in Guyana. That was in 2009, the situation is different today.
GC: Where are you headed?
FS: Athens, Greece. An Embassy has been there (for) at least 20 years.
GC: What are some of your plans for the new country in which you will reside?
FS: I cannot be certain until I arrive and make observations. I am unsure of how the economic situation will affect relations between the embassy and the people of Greece.

Here are some offerings of the Mexican Embassy in Guyana:

Film Festivals
On March 22, 2010, the Embassy of Mexico proudly launched “The Soul of Mexico: A Series of Films” depicting the history and culture of Mexico, held at the Turkeyen, E.C.D Campus of the University of Guyana (UG).
The festival was specifically hosted in the University of Guyana’s Learning Resource Centre (LRC), and opened with the film “The Dawn of Mesoamerica”, a depiction of how culture was born over 3,000 years ago in what today is Mexico.
At the film festival, Mexican Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Fernando Sandoval, said that the films, created by the “Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (National Council for Culture and Arts), will focus on the history of Mexico from pre-historic times to the present day. The ambassador had said that Mexico’s heritage would be   displayed through the “ancient vitality of tradition and the most profound, authentic and significant aspects that define Mexico’s identity”.

Folk presentations and workshops
From the beginning of time, dance has played an integral part in every nation’s politics, history, culture, and social life. Thus when Mexico celebrated the anniversary of its Independence in Guyana come the month of September, the stunning dance presentations starting from September 2010 were one of the highlights.
At those presentations, dances from the Oaxaca, Veracruz and Jalisco regions of Mexico were performed by Ballet Folklorico de Mexicos dancers. The dancers also facilitated workshops with local dancers in order to teach them the art.

Food Festivals
In September 2009, the Mexican Embassy in Guyana held the first ever Mexican food festival at the Pegasus Hotel. The festival featured a variety of food from different regions of Mexico, prepared with some 35 different spices and more than 20 different varieties of pepper by Chef Gabriel Jimenez, who was specially brought in from Mexico for the occasion.

History Lectures
In September 2010, as part of ongoing bicentennial Independence activities, the Mexican Embassy in Guyana hosted the first part of a two-piece Mexican lecture series in the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT) of the University of Guyana (UG) Turkeyen Campus.
The lecture “A Vision on Mexican Independence and Revolution (1810/1821 – 1910/20)” was delivered by visiting Professor José Roberto Gallegos, who traced Mexico’s history, from conquest by Spain in 1521 to the signing of the Treaty of Cordoba on August 24, 1821, which recognized Mexican independence under the terms of the Plan of Iguala (named after the city of Iguala in the modern-day state of Guerrero).

Art Exhibitions
The Mexican Embassy promoted the rich art of Mexico with an exhibition on the life and work of world famous Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo (1907–1954) in September 2010.
In September 2011, nationalised Mexican citizen Mayela Leiva, a highly trained artist and ceramist, displayed her skill at “An Exhibition of Ceramics” which opened at Castellani House last Thursday evening. The artist’s presentation was impressive.