Jamaicans in UK Say Farewell to High Commissioner Roberts

Members of the Jamaican community turned out on Saturday (December 18) at a special reception to say farewell to High Commissioner, Maxine Roberts whose tour of duty comes to an end December 31. High Commissioner Roberts was praised for her dedication and commitment to both Jamaica and the Jamaican community in the United Kingdom (UK).
Manager of National Commercial Bank, UK Operations, Dales Robinson said Miss Roberts was a true friend to the Jamaican businesses operating in the UK.
“She demonstrated an excellent understanding of the challenges facing us and was a constant source of support and encouragement. We attribute much of our success to your support. We also know that you saw us as fellow ambassadors for Jamaica in a climate frequently hostile to Jamaica and Jamaicans and for this we were proud to stand with you to fly the flag of our beloved country,” he said.
Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Hertfordshire, Linda Hay said High Commissioner Roberts was a very great lady who served Jamaica well during a turbulent time.
“She has carried out the task with tremendous zeal and tenacity on many occasions against adversity. You have served our community to the best of your ability. The UK is an extremely difficult post, it requires someone with an enormous intellectual capacity to grasp some of the very complex social policies we have seen being carried out in this country, but you have done that with great dignity and efficiency,” she said.
Mrs. Hay also said that the High Commissioner was an inspiration to many young Jamaicans.
UK delegate to the Diaspora Advisory Board, Travis Johnson who spoke on behalf of community organizations, said High Commissioner Roberts was greatly admired.
“You did a splendid job,” he said, adding that during the Diaspora Conference in Jamaica in June, High Commissioner Roberts was the only High Commissioner who was with her delegation throughout the conference.”You have supported us to establish the UK Diaspora here, you have done what we would have liked you to do over the past two years, we are really sorry that your tour of duty is so short. You served your countrymen and women well. We wish you every happiness and success in the future,” he said.In her response, High Commissioner Roberts thanked members of the Jamaican community for their support.
“I really want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart, you have been a wonderful community. We have tried here at the High Commission to support you to the best of our ability; we did the best that we could and we sought to do a lot of things under sometimes, very trying circumstances. You have all been wonderful; you have rallied and come to our support and have been very good to us,” she said. The High Commissioner also urged the community to continue to work together.
Tributes were also paid to High Commissioner Roberts by the staff and the government Agencies in London, at a special Christmas Dinner last Friday (December 17).