Viva Mexico! Viva nuestra Independencia!Viva los Heroes que nos dieron Libertad! were the toasts raised by Isabel B Tellez De Ortega, Ambassador of Mexico, who with her husband Agustin Ortega Wright, hosted a reception on the occasion of the 190th Anniversary of the Independence of Mexico, at their residence, 70 Ascot Road, Goodwood Park, last Saturday night.
A career diplomat, the Ambassador took up the challenge from her President five years ago to re-open the Mexican Embassy in Trinidad & Tobago. To-day Isabel is by virtue of being the longest serving Head of Mission in this country, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.
The highpoint in her five-year stay in this country came when in January 1998, after Prime Minister Basdeo Panday's State Visit to Mexico "my President made my promotion as a career Ambassador. I was privileged to have had that promotion in Trinidad and Tobago in June 1998. Trinidad and Tobago was my first Ambassadorial post, but internally I was still a Minister. In our Foreign Service. you are first a Diplomatic Attache, then third, second and first Secretary, Consul, and Minister before becoming Ambassador. When I came to Trinidad in October 1995 I was still at the Ministerial level internally, after the state visit I had earned the promotion as a career Ambassador."
As she nears the end of her posting here, the date is still unknown, and with a new Mexican President being sworn in on December 1st, 2000, Ambassador Tellez De Ortega feels "they could decide to let us stay until the end of next summer that would be a precedent of six years in a posting." On the other hand she could be called back at any time to serve the Ministry or be transferred to another country: "We are like soldiers you go where you are sent. It is better to get used to the idea that you are going to be moved, otherwise it will be too much suffering to leave Trinidad & Tobago" which she and her family have totally enjoyed.
In 1985, the Embassy in this country was one of about ten Mexican Missions closed around the world. The decision to re-open in 1995 coincided with the start of the Association of Caribbean States in the region. Ambassador De Ortega is also responsible for the islands of Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada but finds it very difficult to cover them as she feels "you should be in a place to be a good Ambassador."
But with help from her economist husband to whom she has been married for 24 years and 17 year old son, a student at the Maple Leaf School, she gets the job done very easily. "My husband and I have been together a long time. He was my boss. I was a very young vice consul at the time. He worked for many years in the Mexican government in different ministries, the last was energy."
Isabel admits that it is not easy for a man to find himself in a second position in public life, but there have been no problems because " Agustin is a very secure man and is not a macho person, yet he is strict, very smart and loves me as I love him. We work together as a team. Before starting anything, we get together, make a prayer say for you God, and for Mexico, and the three of us start what we have to do."
During recent eye surgery, the Ambassador says "Agustin was supportive and patient with me. Of course he would love to be able to work and do something else but the protocol of our country does not allow it. After God he is my first support, a good advisor as International Relations is my specialty while economics is his so we can study the budget together. He does not have time to get bored."
The Ambassador recalls that her husband was first to visit Trinidad and Tobago. "A small group of Latin American countries which were exporters of oil came as a delegation to the Minister of Energy, who was Mr Manning then. At that time we had no idea we were going to come here. Agustin said it was a beautiful paradise" . So when she was asked to re-open the Embassy here, the answer was immediately yes. "I had worked in Mexico for most of the time, dealing with International organisations, like the United Nations and OAS , but based in Mexico where I think I have covered all the aras in my ministry. When we left Mexico I spoke to him and told him if I want to go further in my career I have to go out, I cannot just be in and out of Mexico. It was easy as from as far back as1984 we had decided if the opportunity comes to whichever one of us, the other will follow."
The couple lived at the Hilton Hotel for three months, the office was easier to find and the Embassy moved to Algico Building in one month. "It was my husband who had the job to find a residence. At the time there were not many houses available and we needed a house that could represent what Mexico is, neither a big country rich and full of money. nor a small country, something in the middle. My husband helped me by visiting houses and more houses and eventually said Isabel I think I have found what you would like it is full of light. I have the sea and mountains and so I am at home."
Agustin can sometimes be busier than his wife who says "he was responsible for organising El Grito, the National Day function which is celebrated all around the world with a Mexican party, as we give praise to Mexico, to our independence, to our freedom, to our democracy and to our nation. That is very important no matter who is in power, no matter what part of Mexico you are from. The struggle for Independence from the Spaniards started in 1810 and finished in 1821. We cannot erase the struggle, nor can we erase our geography so we are very careful with the Americans with whom we now have very good relations. Our anthem is one of war. There is a part which translates -Mexico, God gave you a soldier in every Mexican."
Sharing a 3000 km border with the United States, very many Mexicans go there to work "and a lot illegally" says Ambassador Tellez De Ortega "so we share with the Americans a lot of things and cannot ignore them, therefore we handle each problem in a separate way and do not paralyse relations because of one problem."
With Guatemala, Belize and the rest of Central America as neighbours, and Cuba across the Gulf of Mexico, the country has many cultures around which gives Mexico a very, very rich culture. Isabel remembers at age 15 dancing to two different types of music, American's rock and roll from the north, and the Bossa Nova from Brazil in the south. Appointed Dean of the Diplomatic Corps only in August, the Ambassador is waiting on the return of some of her colleagues from summer vacation to get together with them. In her very placid manner, she explained "in some countries the Dean has a special role to play. Here my colleagues will come for advice if they have problems and any new Ambassadors will come for a briefing. I will do whatever they want me to do, whether to host meetings or just work with them individually. There are times when the Dean alone is invited and I go on their behalf. "