Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

Ricardo Hamilton (right) is busy selling bag juice to thirsty persons outside the Kingston Ice Factory, on Harbour Street, in downtown Kingston, after there was a rush on the company by persons purchasing ice. It also caused considerable traffic delays yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

You know we are in the hurricane season when your cupboard is stocked with more tinned and dried foods and other non-perishables, than is the norm. You know you are definitely in for a a hit, when you notice service stations doing brisk business in retailing ice, and long queueswith more canisters being filled at the gas pumps than cars. And you definitely know you are in trouble if you are the only one in traffic with your motor vehicle laden with plywood.

And if the howling winds, making unkind threats and menacing gestures were not punishment enough, throw into the mix, the lack of communication, as your fixed and mobile telephone service are also out. You are left with nothing, but a prayer that this too shall pass, and you will emerge physically unscathed.

So, here we are in the midst of an approaching mega hurricane and in the midst of a general election campaign. So, you think with a Category Four and rising hurricane approaching the island, the political parties would be savvy enough to suspend their raw, political campaign adverts and use pre-booked advertising spots to announce shelters and or any other such useful and relevant tid-bits that might help to save life and/or property?

Pity the poor voter

Well, if you thought that some such informed person would cause his or her party to rise to the occasion, then pity the poor voter, as it seems to have been, definitely not that kind of a party!

Pity though, as a paid announcement by either of the two political parties would have been a far more effective tool, as against the blatant politicking in the midst of the howling winds.

Alas, all was not lost as kudos goes out to businessman Chris Nakash, who kept many informed about the hurricane's path and passage, with many bulletins. And congratulations to The Gleaner Power 106 team, especially Dervan Malcolm an Morrison, whose commentary and open-lines, kept many informed and entertained, when it was most certainly needed.

EOJ blunder

Then there was the case of the Election Office of Jamaica getting way ahead of itself in advising the Governor-General, as to their timetable for the new date for the general election. And as for that statement about all candidates being 'properly nominated', isn't that a determination to be made by the courts?

Sweethearts, we are living in very interesting times, and it looks to get more so, in the days ahead!

Anyway, it's the age of Virgo, and with the passage of Hurricane Dean, the suspension of the electoral campaign notwithstanding, celebrations there are and will be aplenty, as Virgoans are all set to mark their birthdays with some fine partying.

Happy belated wishes to the lovely Sammille Spence, who celebrated on Thursday, her 19th birthday, in Toronto, Canada.

Former colleague, Dawn Young, will celebrate three days earlier on the 9th. The charming and graceful Debbie Hamilton, formerly of the OPM, will celebrate on September 12.

Those celebrating on Sunday, August 26, include Dawn King; Gillian Belnavis; the fabulous Roseanne Delfosse-Neuman-Smith; the lovely Sherida Sharpe Dujon; the oh so gracious Brenda Belding-Topping (now in Cayman); Yolan Zanders; twin siblings, Desmond and Donald Panton; and Inel Jones, who will be celebrating her 76th birthday in crossfield, Clarendon, at a gathering that will see her children, grandchildren and great-grand, in attendance.

Cecile Levee will celebrate her special day on Wednesday, August 29.

Political insider and JLP operative, Pat Stephens, will celebrate on Thursday the 30th.

Also celebrating Virgo birthdays are head of MacMillan Advertisers, Robert MacMillan; architect Tony Constantine. The tres elegant Sonja Sutherland Dumetz; Chris Nakash and Wayne Chen of the Super Plus chain of supermarkets.

The list also includes Paul-Navarro Jackson, who will be partying in New York instead of our hurricane-ravaged island; architect Nafthalie St. John Walsh; Capt. Michael Lyn; Dr. John McHardy; Dr. John Masterton. Sonia Ruddock of Jamaica National; legal luminary, Norman Wright; Garth Barakatt; the style-perfect Portia Nicholson-Clarke, as well as Dr. Lee Martin; Wyvolyn Gager, former editor-in-chief of this fine newspaper, are all Virgoans, as are businessman Peter Bovell; Hazel King, her daughter, Christene King, and her son-in-law Marlon Creary. Teacher and actor, Ronald Goshop; comedic actor, Glen Campbell; Ena Jackson-Wray of Mandeville; The Jamaica Constabulary Force's Supt. Harry Daley; Dwayne Gouldbourne; Charmaine Johnson-Niazi; Captain Cliff Lumsden; Sulan Delfosse-Smith and the lovely Jessica Marzouca.

Happy birthday all around dearios, and make it champagne toasts with beluga treats, remembering all the time that living well is the best revenge.

Wife of the former head of the EU delegation HE Ambassador Gerd Jarchow and Mara Mandara-Jarchow, are back in Brussells for the celebrations after their summer holidays here.

Gager. - file

( L - R ) Captain Lyn, Bovell - Contributed