Mrs. Beryl Walters-Riley, Jamaica’s Honorary Consul to the Commonwealth of Virginia, has retired in October 2015 after 26 years of service to her homeland. She was highly praised by the Embassy of Jamaica and the members of the Jamaican community in Richmond, Virginia’s capital city. She was honored at a special reception on April 9, 2016, in recognition of her excellent representation of Jamaica’s interests in Virginia. The outgoing Jamaican Ambassador to the United States Ralph Thomas said he accepted Mrs. Walters-Riley’ retirement with mixed emotions, telling her that, since March 1999, she has served with distinction and endeared herself to all the Jamaicans with whom she interacted. Mrs. Walters-Riley personally involved herself with several initiatives designed to find collaborative possibilities and cultural exchanges among the academic institutions located in Virginia, Jamaica, and throughout the Caribbean. She was especially instrumental in coordinating cultural and medical missions to Jamaica.