Ingenio Mayor Visits Baton Rouge

On Tuesday, August 9th, 2005 the mayor of Ingenio, Gran Canaria, Spain, Mr. Domingo González and his wife Luisa González visited Baton Rouge during his trip to St. Bernard Parish to initiate a student exchange program. A reception was held at the State Archives Building where Mayor Gonzalez met members of the Baton Rouge group. President Catherine Prokop later accompanied the couple to the offices of Mayor Holden and Councilman Darryl Ourso. The new State Capitol, LSU campus, Rural Life Museum, and a private tour of Magnolia Mound Plantation completed the sites visited by our guests.

Baton Rouge Mayor-President Melvin "Kip" Holden names Ingenio Mayor-President Domingo González Romero an Honorary Mayor-President.

El Alcalde-Presidente de Baton Rouge, Melvin “Kip” Holden, nombra al Alcalde-Presidente de Ingenio, Domingo González Romero, Alcalde-Presidente Honorario de la ciudad de Baton Rouge.

(Left to Right) Councilman Darryl Ourso, Mayor González, Mayor Holden, and Mrs. Luisa González pose in the Baton Rouge Mayor's office.

(De izquierda a derecha): concejal Darryl Ourso, alcalde González, alcalde Holden, y Doña Luisa González posando en la oficina del alcalde de Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge Mayor Holden and Ingenio Mayor González exchange gifts from Louisiana, and Gran Canaria, Spain.

El alcalde de Baton Rouge (Melvin “Kip” Holden) y el alcalde de Ingenio (Domingo González) intercambian regalos de Luisiana y Gran Canaria (España).

Councilman Darryl Ourso welcomes Mayor Domingo González to the Baton Rouge-City Parish Chambers where twelve Councilmen and the Mayor-President meet to conduct official business for the local government. Looking on Left to Right are Sergio Ramos, a visiting Spanish teacher from Gran Canaria; St. Bernard Parish Historian, William Hyland; Mrs. Luisa González; Catherine Prokop, President of the Canary Islanders Heritage Society; and Deputy Mike Ingargiola, St. Bernard Parish.

El concejal Darryl Ourso muestra al alcalde Domingo González las Cámaras de la Ciudad de Baton Rouge, donde doce concejales y el alcalde-presidente se reúnen periódicamente para debatir asuntos oficiales del gobierno local. De izquierda a derecha aparecen Sergio Ramos, maestro de español visitante procedente de Gran Canaria, el historiador de la Parroquia (Condado) de San Bernardo, William Hyland, Doña Luisa González, Catherine Prokop, Presidenta de la Sociedad Patrimonio Canario (Canary Islanders Heritage Society), y el Ayudante del Sheriff Mike Ingargiola (Parroquia de San Bernardo).

Sergio Ramos Lopez who also served as translator for the official visit of the Mayors, translates an intense discussion between Mayor González and Councilman Ourso about each other's form of government. Mr. Ourso invited the Mayor to his personal office where he named him as an Honorary Councilman.

Sergio Ramos López, quien también sirvió de traductor en el encuentro oficial de los alcaldes, traduce un intenso debate entre el alcalde González y el concejal Ourso acerca de las peculiaridades en las formas de gobierno de cada uno. El señor Ourso invitó al alcalde a su oficina personal, donde le nombró Concejal Honorario de Baton Rouge (of Baton Rouge).

*all photos above courtesy of Baton Rouge city-parish photographer

Jean Nauman translates as Mayor González presents gifts to President Catherine Prokop. (Photo by Joan Alėman Landry)

Mayor González thanks John Hickey for a copy of the ship manifests of all ships leaving the Canary Islands for the Spanish Louisiana Territory (1779-1783) Over 2,000 people are listed in alphabetical order. (Photo by William Carmena)

President Catherine Prokop welcomes Mayor and Mrs. González to reception held in their honor. (Photo by Joan Alėman Landry)

Mayor and Mrs. González accept an official gift from the Society, a painting of a typical La. Swamp Scene painted especially for them by Janelle Hickey. (Photo by Joan Alėman Landry)

Group photo showing attendees of the reception. Left to Right: William Carmena, Glynn Hernandez, Jean Nauman, Bob Nauman, Paul Newfield, Luisa Muñoz González, Catherine Prokop, William Hyland, Mayor Domingo González Romero, Vilora Bergeron, Janelle Hickey, Dennis Bergeron, John Hickey, Joan Alėman Landry, and Linda Landry. (Photo by Joan Alėman Landry)