Annex: Visit to Chubut and Buenos Aires,
March 2014
Participants
Members: David TC Davies MP (Chair), Guto Bebb MP,
Stephen Doughty MP, Jonathan Edwards MP, Nia Griffith MP, Simon
Hart MP, Mrs Siân C. James MP, Jessica Morden MP, Mark Williams
MP
Staff: Marek Kubala (Clerk), Anwen Rees (Committee
Specialist)
Monday 17 March
| 0905 | Arrive in Buenos Aires
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| 1300 | Meeting with HMA John Freeman, British Ambassador to Argentina, and Embassy staff
Ambassador's Residence, Buenos Aires
Participants: HMA John Freeman, British Ambassador to Buenos Aires, Ross Matthews, Head Political and Public Affairs, British Embassy in Buenos Aires, Anna Durham, Political Secretary, British Embassy in Buenos Aires, Mary Godward, Argentina Country Manager, British Council
|
| 1430 | Meeting with Argentine parliamentarians
Palace of the Argentina National Congress
Participants: Mara Brawer (Front for Victory), Ricardo Alfonsin (Radical Civic Union), Mario Alfredo Metaza (Front for Victory), Mario Oporto (Front for Victory), Federico Pinedo (Republican Proposal), Carlos Raimundi (Nuevo Encuentro)
Topics of discussion:
- The Welsh communities in Argentina and the 2015 celebrations
- Tackling drugs
- AMIA bombing and Iran
|
| 1630 | Tea with representatives of Welsh community based in Buenos Aires
Ambassador's Residence
|
| 1730 | Meeting with Minister of Culture, City of Buenos Aires
Ambassador's Residence
Participants: Hernan Lombardi, Minister of Culture, City of Buenos Aires, Gabriela Ricardes, Cuty of Buenos Aires
Topics of discussion:
- Cultural relations between the UK and Argentina
- Inclusion of Wales in the City of Buenos Aires' plans for UK-themed-festivals in 2015
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| 1830 | Briefing by the British Council
Ambassador's Residence
Participant: Mary Godward, Argentina Country Manager, British Council
Topics of discussion:
- The British Council's work in Argentina
- The Welsh Language Programme in Chubut
- The British Council's plans for the 2015 anniversary
|
| 1900 | Private dinner with Ambassador, Embassy and British Council staff
Ambassador's Residence
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Tuesday 18 March
| 0900 | Meeting with British Chamber of Commerce
British Chamber of Commerce offices, Buenos Aires
Participants: Julian Rooney, President, Argentine-British Chamber of Commerce (CCAB), Monica Mesz, Executive Director, CCAB, Simon di Paola, Partner, HDL Brokers SA, Eduardo Arzani, Head, Chubut Office in Buenos Aires [formerly Minister of Commerce for Chubut Province], Andrew Morris, Head, UK Trade and Investment, British Embassy in Buenos Aires
Topics of discussion:
- Promotion of Welsh businesses and products in Argentina
- Role of UKTI in promoting Wales
- Emerging industries in Argentina
|
| 1250 | Transport to Esquel, Chubut Province
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| 1830 | Reception with members of Welsh community in the west of Chubut and local politicians [in association with the Welsh Society of Esquel]
Welsh community centre, Esquel
Participants: More than 70 invitees, including members of the local Welsh community, the Mayor of Esquel and other local politicians.
Speeches were made by Committee Members and members of local Welsh community.
|
Wednesday 19 March
| 1000 | Meeting with Mayor of Trevelin
Mayor's office, Trevelin
Participant: Juan Carlos Garitano, Mayor of Trevelin
Topics of discussion:
- Size and importance of Welsh communities in Trevelin and west of Chubut
- The Welsh Language Programme and future education proposals
- The Mayor's plans for the 2015 celebrations
|
| 1045 | Tour of Trevelin Regional Historical Museum
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| 1130 | Tour of John Evans Museum
|
| 1430 | Visit to Ysgol Gymraeg yr Andes (Welsh School in the Andes)-part of the Welsh Language Programme
Participants: Clare Whitehouse, Coordinator, Welsh Language Programme, Mary Green
Tour of Chapel and presentations on Welsh Language Programme. Visit to school—saw classes being taught for pupils between 4-5 years old.
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| 1645 | Visit to School 18, Trevelin—where Welsh community voted to remain Argentine (and not Chilean) in 1902
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| 2000 | Informal dinner with prominent members of local Welsh community
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Thursday 20 March
| 0730-1700 | Travel to Trelew by road
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| 1830 | Reception with members of Welsh community in the east of Chubut and local politicians
St David's Association Hall, Trelew
Participants: About 85 invitees, including members of the local Welsh community, the Mayor of Gaiman and other local politicians.
Speeches were made by Chair and members of local Welsh community
|
Friday 21 March
| 1000 | Meeting with Governor of Chubut and Mayor of Gaiman
Governor's office, Rawson
Participants: Martin Buzzi, Governor of Chubut Province, Rosa
Gonzalez, Under Secretary of Institutional Relations, Carlos Zonza Nigro, Secretary of Tourism of Chubut, Gabriel Restucha, Mayor of Gaiman,
Topics of discussion:
- Economic and cultural relations between Wales and Chubut Province
- Importance and influence of Welsh communities in Chubut
- The impact of the Welsh Language Programme
- The Governor's plans for the 2015 anniversary celebrations
|
| 1130 | Visit to Ysgol yr Hendre (Trelew School)
Participants: Silvia Almeyra, Headmistress, and members of the Board, including Catrin Morris
Visit to classrooms in the kindergarten (4-5 year olds) and Years 1 to 3 of the primary school (6-8 year olds), which includes 55 pupils in total.
The Committee then visited a separate part of the school for Years 4 to 6 (9-12 year olds, 45 pupils in total). The pupils performed songs from a recent staged Welsh musical.
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| 1250 | Visit to Coleg Camwy (Gaiman secondary school)
Participants: Gabriel Restucha, Mayor of Gaimnan, Luned Gonzales, former headmistress
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| 1430 | Visit to Ysgol Feithrin, Gaiman Kindergarten
Participants: Rebecca White, Welsh Language Programme
The Committee was shown the kindergarten which includes 40-45 pupils of between 3 to 5 years. A mini-concert of Welsh music and dance was provided by the pupils.
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| 1530 | Tour of Welsh Regional Historical Museum, Gaiman
Participant: Tegai Roberts
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| 1745 | Chair gives interview on live local radio
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| 2000 | Informal dinner with prominent members of local Welsh community
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Saturday 22 March
| 0815 | Flight to Buenos Aires.
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Sunday 23 March
| 0900 | Debrief at Ambassador's Residence
Participants: HMA John Freeman, British Ambassador to Buenos Aires, Anna Durham, Political Secretary, British Embassy in Buenos Aires, Mary Godward, Argentina Country Manager, British Council
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| 1430 | Transport to airport for return flight to UK
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