Chester Francis-Jackson, ContributorMY DAAHLINGS, it was the day time stood still here on the rock!
It was the longest day in our political history when the announcement for which the nation waited with bated breath finally came. Not only did the nation exhale, it did so with a mighty rush.
People across the length and breadth of the land exploded in a rush of spontaneous celebration and jubilation that simply underlined their belief that they had finally triumphed with the victory of Portia Simpson Miller over her political colleagues.
With her victory, she not only silenced her would-be detractors, but she gave hope and a vicarious victory to the many who identify with her modest and humble beginnings, her perceived sense of empathy and ability to effect real and meaningful change in the status quo!
BELOVED DOYENNE
They call her 'Sister P'. To some she is 'Mother P', and to thousands of others she is simply 'Portia', the beloved doyenne of Jamaican politics, with an appeal that cut across the political divide, but somehow never quite managing to gain any traction within the ranks of the upper class, or even within ranks of the would-be powerbrokers of her own political party.
She did, however, boast the overwhelming support of the polloi, the pool from which most of the delegates to her party is drawn, and so, while eschewed by her parliamentary colleagues for the most part, she really commanded the respect and admiration of those who mattered in the final analysis the delegates.
And so it was, that she came out of left field and delivered a 'naw-look-lick' to her political opponents and the establishmentarian old guard that has left most 'tunted', and others reeling from her decisive victory.
CLAIMING PATERNITY
Now, y'all know that 'Victory has many fathers, while defeat is a lonely orphan'. So it is now as many are a scurrying not only to identify with Mrs. Simpson Miller's victory, but also to indecently claim its paternity! Alas, such is life!
Now, y'all know that there's been some concerns expressed about the seeming undue haste or indecent rush with which the 'resignation' of former Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke was announced and his successor pronounced.
Well, the word from one insider is that all of this was done in anticipation of a Portia Simpson Miller victorious PNP presidential bid, and pre-empting the possibility of her appointing former Opposition Leader Edward Seaga to the post of Governor-General on the retirement of Sir Howard Cooke, who had expressed his desire to leave office this year.
It is widely known that Simpson Miller does not hold the same view of Edward Seaga as many of her parliamentary and party colleagues, and so to rob her of executing a stroke of political genius, we now have the situation where King's House is still occupied by the former
G-G, and the 'homelessness' of the current G-G is causing quite a security nightmare for the
security people and the protocol officers.
CHAMPING AT THE BIT
To say that some in the Portia Simpson Miller 'camp' were livid by the move to outflank her would be putting it rather mildly, but some are indeed even now champing at the bit at what they see as the continued move by the dying Patterson administration to rain on her parade.
Not that all members of this administration are part and parcel of the plan to rain on her parade. In fact, some had planned not to be a part of the parade at all, as the buzz is at least two Cabinet colleagues made offers of resignation over the weekend, but were persuaded to stay the course in the interest of party unity by its current
president.
Dears, there is more to come
as we are definitely living in interesting times.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
While the rest of Jamaica was in the throes of celebrating Mrs. Simpson Miller's triumph, the charming couple of George Harrison and his fabulous wife, Shirley McCarthy-Harrison, of Ensom Acres, and a shortlist of family and friends gathered at the rather charming Roof Garden of the Irie Plaza, located over there on the Old Harbour Road, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of their union, and dears, it was quite a marvellously charming little do.
They do say time flies when you are having fun, and so it would seem, as it was five years ago that the lovely couple exchanged their 'I dos' in a fabulous ceremony at the Webster United Church on Half-Way Tree Road, that was followed by an even more fabulous mid-morning reception at the tres chic Courtleigh Hotel on Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston.
As it was in the beginning so it was at the reception to commemorate the couple's fifth anniversary. It was an intimate gathering of friends and relatives who turned out to share with the
couple on their special day.
The Irie Plaza Roof Garden is a charmingly quaint little garden that is really more deck than garden, and is quite a spacious place that once accessed, provides a fabulous view of the plains of St Catherine, and the hills of St. Andrew. It was done up to reflect the festive and spirited mood of the occasion and represent an oasis of comfort and reflective style.
Guests began arriving from 7:00 p.m. last Saturday, to join in the celebrations. What should have got off to an 8:00 p.m. start actually got under way, minutes after 9:00 p.m. But for the many guests who journeyed from all over, this delay was no cause for concern, as many guests were childhood friends and used the occasion to catch up on each other, as well as the extended circle of friends. With the principals hailing primarily from quaint little Linstead, there was a lot to talk of and share.
LOVELY OUTING
Friends gathered and toasted each other with libations flowing and some wicked Jello Shots making the rounds. It was one spiritedly lovely outing that moved from cruising into overdrive after the brief ceremony and toasts, with speaker after speaker attesting to the love and esteem which the couple hold and share for each other. The party really got its own groove going after the couple opened the dance floor and danced up a seductive storm in their own world before they were joined by several others.
The charming Adlyn Dixon did the catering honours and she took the cake as she served up a fare that was memorable! You know the kind of a fare which makes even the most jaded ask for recipes? Well, it was like that to die for, particularly the roasted fish done up noodle mix and stuffed with callaloo and cheese. It was too fab not to do seconds. In fact, it was so fine, that one could even excuse those guests who parcelled some for the home journey!
AWAITING THE 10TH
It was a wonderful little outing and a fab way to mark their fifth wedding anniversary. And now we await the 10th!
Among those out sharing in the couples joy and love were: JLP MP Andrew Gallimore, who chaired the brief ceremony; the fabulous Shirley Morris, looking like all that, jetted in from New York; Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Cross; Byron and Caroline Oliphant; Annemarie Smith; Patrick McPherson; Hollingsworth Taylor; Marvin Irons and companion June Johnson; Carlene Simon; Paul and Camille Blake; Dwight and Paula Blackwood; Ossie and Darla Dalrymple and Arlene Holder from Guyana; plus
several others.
