France and Jamaica reaffirmed their strong relations during a reception on Sunday, July 14 to mark Bastille Day, the French national day to commemorate the storming of the Bastille — a prison in 18th century France — during the French Revolution.

The event was hosted by French ambassador to Jamaica, Olivier Guyonvarch, his wife Boulie Jeong and Antoine Simenel, deputy head of missions, at the French Embassy on Hillcrest Avenue in St Andrew.

Dedicating the evening to Jamaicans suffering from the impact of Hurricane Beryl, Guyonvarch expressed condolences to the people of Jamaica and his government’s solidarity with the island.

French Ambassador Olivier Guyonvarch (left) sharing a moment with Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Alando Terrelonge.

Marianne van Steen (centre), Ambassador of the European Union to Jamaica with French Ambassador Olivier Guyonvarch and his wife Boulie Jeong at the Bastille Day celebration.

He noted that the French Development Agency will be providing assistance in the form of a grant to the National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica (NCTFJ) through the Caribbean Regional Architecture Fund, adding that the agency remains open to any request from the Government of Jamaica in terms of reconstruction loans.

Additionally, he said the French International Centre for Tropical Agricultural Research and Development, which is working with the Banana Board, will provide financial contribution to aid in reconstruction and rehabilitation of agricultural assets destroyed by Beryl.

In the meantime, the ambassador noted that 2023 – 2024 has been an active year for the relations between France and Jamaica, with what he said were unprecedented exchanges of bilateral high level visits.

French Ambassador Guyonvarch (fourth right), Minister Terrelonge (third right) sharing a moment with Saint International modeling agency founder Deiwght Peters (centre) and other guests.

Celebrating Bastille Day with a toast to the renewed and prosperous friendship between France and Jamaica. Pictured in this photo are Antoine Simenel, Deputy Head of Missions at the French Embassy (left), his wife Daiana Oliveira Simenel (second left), French Ambassador, Olivier Guyonvarch (third right ), his wife Boulie Jeong (third left), Alando Terrelonge (second right) and Racquel Leslie.

He noted that in August 2023, French Minister for the Sea Hervé Berville attended the Assembly of the ISA and made a bilateral visit, during which he had meetings with Jamaica’s State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Alando Terrelonge; Industry and Commerce Minister Aubyn Hill and Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda.

In February 2024, recognising the important role played by Jamaica for the stabilisation of Haiti, French Minister Chrisoula Zacharopoulou attended the Kingston Talks held in February under the auspices of Caricom and met with Jamaica’s foreign affairs minister Kamina Johnson Smith, the ambassador said.

He added that the French Development Agency also signed new agreements with the Bank of Jamaica and the Development Bank of Jamaica to enhance the resilience of the economy to climate change, and the development of the small businesses in the sectors of health, education and agriculture.

Venessa Letford, a student at the Caribbean Maritime University singing the Jamaican National Anthem at the Bastille Day celebrations at the French Embassy on Sunday, July 14, 2024.

French Ambassador Olivier Guyonvarch (left) and his wife Boulie Jeong (right) welcoming US Ambassador to Jamaica, Nick Perry and his wife Joyce to the Bastille Day event.

Meanwhile, Terrelonge acknowledged France’s desire to aid in the development of Jamaica, namely through infrastructure, irrigation, agriculture, maritime development, and education and work opportunities for Jamaicans in France.

He praised the strong bilateral friendship between the countries while expressing his desire that relations will continue to grow and develop through cooperation.

Among the guests at the event, which saw Paris being brought to Jamaica for the night with displays of the Eiffel Tower and other things French including street signs and wine, were: Industry Minister Aubyn Hill ; US Ambassador Nick Perry; Chinese Ambassador Chen Daojiang; and EU Ambassador Marianne van Steen among other diplomatic officials.

Guests sharing a warm moment with Ambassador Guyonvarch under a display of the Eiffel Tower.

Thalia Lyn, founder and chairman of Island Grill shared the spotlight with her husband Captain Michael Lyn at the Bastille Day event.

Representatives of Total Energies, Vinci Constructions, Rubis, KFTL, Alliance Française in Jamaica, Sygnus, J Wray and Nephew, Hennessy, Evian and Fidelity Motors were also in attendance.

Guests sporting their bérets under the “Avenue des Champs Elysées” street sign at the Bastille Day celebrations at the French Embassy.

Guests find comfort at the “royalty” chair.