Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Left: Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller sounds the trumpet. - File photosRight: Jamaica Labour Party leader Bruce Golding rings the symbolic bell.
Now, y'all ever see the trials of the Jamaican electorate!
On one hand, those advocating loudest for political change are not in any position to effect that change because they are not enumerated. While they shout loudest, they seemed to have confused the echo of their voices as the voices of the people!
Meanwhile, the people turned out in unbelievable numbers on Sunday to hear Portia Simpson Miller speak.
This one was the mother of all orange enchiladas! Talk about being in them ackee!
Well, my daahlings, it is getting more and more difficult to disagree with those pundits that have been saying the 'Jamaica is PNP country', because if the sea of people who were bussed, taxied, drove and/or simply walked to the city centre, is any indicator of their political voting intention, capacity and/or organisational fortitude, then, precious angels, the new Simpson Miller-led PNP will be with us for some time yet!
And then, my dears, can y'all believe the Opposition Leader's response to the actual naming of a date for the general elections?
Pity the poor Mr. Golding who, instead of welcoming the much-anticipated electoral date with destiny, seemed to have been caught unaware. This, despite his actually campaigning for this date for the last two years or so!
Instead of using the moment to sound the battle cry to his supporters, he seemed to have been afflicted with the proverbial 'foot and mouth disease', which inexplicably cause politicians to say the darnedest things at the most inopportune of times.
Anyway, the political partying has been well and truly enjoined, and all set to crescendo on the night of August 27.
Virgonian celebration
Then, my daahlings, with the general election, the celebration of its outcome and all, all set to fall in the midst of the annual Virgoan celebrations, the word is that the much-anticipated Virgo all-white birthday party do has been postponed for a less politically active date, so more anon.
No such postponement, though, for the birthday celebrations of bon vivant and celebrated hotelier Peter Fraser, as it's all systems go for his much-anticipated event, being hosted over this here weekend with a celebratory bash on the chic south coast.
My daahlings, the birthday is actually tomorrow, Saturday, July 14, and the shortlist of friends expected in attendance are promised a fab do, and nothing else.
And, speaking of birthdays, an especial belated birthday greeting to the fabulous Marsha Wilson, who celebrated her day two Saturdays ago with an outing over to Maiden Cay and a rollicking fest later that night! The buzz is it was all very, very good and then some!
Belated birthday greetings, too, to His Excellency Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni, head of the European delegation to Jamaica, Belize, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Islands, back from his holiday in Morocco, in time to celebrate his Friday, July 6 birthday with friends here in Kingston.
Best wishes all around with champagne toasts and beluga treats!
And speaking of birthdays and holidays, His Excellency Jesus Silva, the formidable Ambassador of Spain, and his wife, the lovely Sara, and their children will take leave of our shores on this weekend for a month-long vacation back in Spain, and a few other European stops, before returning to Kingston in mid-August.
And the new German Ambassador is here, as His Excellency Jurgen Engel and his Salvadorean-born wife, the lovely Ann-Marta Engel, arrived here in Kingston within hours of the departure of former Ambassador Volker Schlegel. And the word is they are settling in nicely, earning rave reviews from colleagues and officials.
August wedding
And the word is, it will be an August wedding for His Excellency Ambassador Douglas Saunders, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and his constant companion, noted attorney Angela Robertson, of the prestigious law firm Livingston Alexander and Levy.
The buzz is the invites are out and the fabulous and picturesque parish of Portland will play host to the do, which promises to be an intimate celebration of love, family and friends!
And then cross-island commuting and island-hopping just got that much easier for leading businessmen as the word is American international financial and business consultant, Mark Jones, has partnered with William Matthias and Brent Ciurlino in acquiring an aircraft just for that purpose.
The word here is that the aircraft is available for lease and/or rental to the business class and/or leisure traveller desirous of avoiding the perils ofcross-island commute by road, or the time-consuming wait and frustration occasioned by scheduled airline flights.
Coming for summer
And speaking of aeroplanes and flying, former head of the Jamaica Flour Mills, Jack Cwach, was in the island last week.
Sidney Murray flew in from Atlanta, for a family matter. John and Cherise Windle will be in town for the wedding of a family friend.
The charming Frances Allison flew in from her Long Island, New York, home for her annual summer holidays here.
And this summer, my daahlings, it's all about Hedonism III and their mind-blowing escapades. So wait for it, as it all promise to be season's party address, and then some.
( L - R ) Jose Silva, Sara Silva
( L - R ) Jose Silva, Douglas Saunders
