Spanish language course for public servants

Fifty-five public servants who took a six-week Spanish course were told yesterday to use the language training opportunity to achieve higher levels of proficiency in Spanish.

The course was hosted by the Embassy of Colombia in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs and the Ministry of Education.

Addressing participants at the closing ceremony of the fourth edition of the course, at Joseph’s Restaurant, Maraval, Tedwin Herbert, acting deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, said he hoped the training would inspire participants to continue honing their skills.

Herbert said the continued interest of the Government of Colombia demonstrates unequivocally the value attached to TT’s bilateral relationship with Colombia.

The government of TT too, he said, "recognises the benefits derived from such technical co-operation programmes in improving the ties between our nations and enhancing understanding of our diverse cultures.

Participants came from the ministries of National Security, Planning and Development, Energy and Energy Affairs, Trade and Industry, Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development, Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs), Social Development and Family Services; Community Development, Culture and the Arts and Foreign and Caricom Affairs.

Herbert thanked the Government of Colombia for the training.

Congratulating all participants, Paola Andrea Mosquera, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Colombia, said since the course hadbeen implemented in TT, not only had it strengthened the relationship between the two countries, but it also raised awareness of both countries' cultural traditions.

She said to date the programme has offered more than 47 courses, from which 2,250 diplomats and public servants, from more than 15 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean, have benefited.

“In the Caribbean alone, 1,356 students have taken the courses since 2013. As a matter of fact, these courses were born in the Caribbean, and we have offered them in Suriname, Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica and of course TT.

Mosquera said she was grateful for the opportunity to host the course because it gave the people of Colombia a chance to show and teach citizens of TT about the culture, language, and music of their country.