By Daviot Kelly, Staff ReporterIT'S APPROPRIATE that a memorable milestone be marked by an enjoyable evening of laughs, music and wise words.
The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) celebrated its 225th Anniversary and Annual Awards on Saturday night at the Hilton Kingston Hotel. The JCC is the oldest chamber in the Americas, a fact that president Michael Ammar Jnr. was quick to point out.
At dinner, it was time for Dr. Kathy Brown and Friends to thrill the gathering with their music. If the Phd. hadn't worked out, then she could have made a living off her music. The gathering received a surprise musical guest when the gargantuan guru of the guitar, Ernie Ranglin, joined the lovely doctor and they delivered a lively, uptempo, move-your-head-to-the-beat set. Ahh, time did not suffice for a longer stay.
Guest comedian, I mean, guest speaker was Trinidadian Paul Keens-Douglas. Anyone who can deliver a serious message between rib-busting jokes has my respect and attention. The comedian implored the JCC to continue its nation-building by working in the right partnerships. He told the chamber to continue going forward as a team and to always look at the positives of things. But this man is a true comedian and jokes were always near.
JOKE OF THE NIGHT
The joke of the night: A sergeant informed a recruit of his mother's passing by saying bluntly, "Yu mother dead!" One recruit, Larry, told the sergeant that he should have used more tact. So when Larry's mother died, sarge tried to use tact. He said, "Everybody line up! All recruits who have a mother step forward! Larry, whe' yu going?"
Good messages and jokes aside, it was also the night for the JCC to honour its members for their work in 2003. The awards were divided into six categories. St. Ann took the Best Parish Chamber Award for the second consecutive year. There were two individual awards; Francis 'Packer' Kennedy took the Individual Chamber Member Award for his work in revitalising Downtown Kingston and Monsignor Richard Albert won the Individual Community Services Award for his exceptional community involvement. The Entrepreneurial Award was divided among small, medium-sized and large business. Christar Villas, Institute of Management Sciences and Institute of Management and Production (IMS/IMP) and Red Stripe took the respective sections. Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay received the Environmental Protection Award.
The creme de la creme of the night though, was the Best of the Chamber: Company Award. And the winner... drum roll please, Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Ltd.!
The Scotia Bank delegation rose to collect the prize and Deputy Managing Director Minna Israel, deputising for Bill Clarke, the managing director, vowed to make it two-in-a-row.
