Environment to unwind
AFTER a long day of serious discussions, delegates to the second Ministerial Conference of Developing Countries on Environment and Development had time to relax when they attended a dinner at the Shangri-La Hotel last Monday.
The dinner was hosted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad who was accompanied by wife Datin Sen Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali.
Before dinner, Dr Mahathir, who earlier had officially opened the conference at the Crown Princess Hotel, had drinks with heads of delegation and engaged in less serious talks.
It was a time for the heads of delegations to get to know one another better.
Among those who had the pre-dinner drinks were Princess Prof Chulabhorn of Thailand, United Kingdom Minister of State for the Environment David MacLean and Japanese Environment Minister Shuzaburo Nakamura. In all, 35 Ministers from developing countries and seven from developed countries attended the dinner.
Others who attended the dinner included delegates from Guyana Dr Cedric Grant, Rita Liburd and Rashleigh Jackson.
US Embassy’s Stephen Carrig and translators Angelica Marquez, Jeannine Lopez, Ana Arcaya, Estela Zalfaroni, Agnes Boonefaes and Cristina del Castillo were also present.
Although the 270 foreign delegates from 65 countries were not dressed in their national costumes, it was still a glamorous night as the women were dressed in striking evening wear.
The jovial mood prevailed throughout the night as guests were entertained by a cultural troupe from the Culture, Arts and Tourism Ministry.
The troupe, in their colourful costumes and graceful movement, held the audience captive as they performed a medley of traditional dances and songs.
The conference began last Monday and ended yesterday. Besides the ministerial conference, the Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists also held a three-day conference.
The journalists were treated to separate dinners by Minister of Science, Technology and Environment Law Hieng Ding, Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz (who was represented by Primary Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik) and Guinness Anchor Berhad.
Source : New Straits Times, April 28, 1992
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