The Venezuelan Embassy in Port of Spain hosted a significant cultural and educational event on December 5, celebrating the graduation of Trinidadian students from the Spanish language and Venezuelan culture program. Ambassador Álvaro Sánchez Cordero presided over the ceremony, emphasizing the Spanish language (Castellano) as a vital bridge for mutual understanding between English and Spanish speakers while strengthening bilateral cultural ties.
During his address, Ambassador Cordero highlighted the six-decade legacy of the Venezuelan Institute of Culture and Co-operation ‘Andres Bello’ (IVCC) as a crucial meeting point for shared knowledge and cultural exchange between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. The ambassador specifically commended graduates for their dedication, particularly those who pursued studies through remote learning or weekend classes despite scheduling challenges.
The ceremony featured multiple cultural presentations demonstrating the students’ linguistic and cultural acquisition. Professor Lisbeth Kong’s Saturday Conversation Workshop participants delivered presentations exploring cultural connections between the two nations, while Professor Coromoto Fernández-Sirju’s Advanced Spanish Group demonstrated their linguistic progression through specialized presentations. Students Jeselle Gajadhar and Dianne Persaud delivered particularly notable individual presentations.
Musical performances formed a centerpiece of the celebration, with the IVCC Rondalla ensemble under Professor Geremías Mai Marcano’s direction performing traditional Venezuelan Christmas compositions including ‘Corre Caballito,’ ‘Niño Criollo,’ ‘Precioso Querube,’ and the patriotic anthem ‘Venezuela.’ The embassy subsequently shared performance videos on its Facebook platform on December 12, describing the event as showcasing ‘the magic of our culture at the IVCC.’
In a testament to the program’s diplomatic significance, Ambassador Cordero declared graduates as cultural ambassadors who now represent ‘the message of peace and global solidarity’ between the neighboring nations. The embassy’s social media posts on December 9 further documented the certificate distribution ceremony, acknowledging participant dedication and the program’s role in fostering meaningful bilateral exchange.
While the IVCC previously maintained branches in both Port of Spain and San Fernando, the embassy confirmed in 2015 that the San Fernando operations were temporarily suspended due to organizational restructuring and program updates.