Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
LEFT: Michele Rollins, owner of Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall. - CONTRIBUTED. RIGHT: Francesca von Habsburg, chairman of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary in Vienna, Austria, at the launch of the exhibition 'Legend' by Candice Breitz. - ANDREW SMITH/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
SOME SAY he is really doing fine, in fact, quite fine! But then again, that depends entirely on whose yardstick one's using to measure the material. Anyway, you can be the judge. The word is that the young entrepreneur and former political power-player, now a resident alien in the southern United States, definitely has an eye for crowned beauties. Firstly, he sired a child by a former Miss World, and the word out of the twin island republic is that the region's first Miss Universe is with child, and that he is the beaming father-to-be.
As for all that talk that he is bankrupt - balderdash, some say - as commuting between the southern U.S.A. and the twin island republic definitely isn't cheap.
BEST WISHES
Anyway, we wish both the expectant mom and her beau all the very best.
And speaking of beauties: The buzz, according to globalbeauties. com, is that if things go her way, Jamaica's entrant in this year's Miss World Competition could be among the finalists tomorrow night, as she is not only dazzling with her eloquence and grace but Terri-Karelle Griffith is a hot combination of beauty and brains and is busy winning over the international press with her confidence and charm.
Also considered serious contenders for the automatic qualifying spots from the region are Miss Trinidad and Tobago, and Miss Dominican Republic, while Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Martinique are
considered the front-runners.
Dears, we wish the lovely Miss Griffith all the best as she goes up against over 100 other beauties.
And speaking of fabulous places and people, Bevan Bennett of San Souci will celebrate his birthday tomorrow. There should be at least 30 candles on his cake, but all bets are that there won't. Now come Wednesday, Jaunito Beckford will move the party from Montreal to this city where all partying hell will break loose.
And now to matters of the heart, my dears. The legal fraternity is in a state of flux as the buzz all about town is that one of their own was recently flown out of the island for medical tests and observations in Florida. The handsome young and healthy jurist suddenly came down with some unexplained ailment that left him shaking like a man way beyond his years, not to mention his sudden loss of muscular control. Dears, it now seems as the matter is a case for the police as the results from tests done in Florida are in and it seems that it was a case of deliberate poisoning!
No word yet on possible suspects, but allegations are that it seems the poison of choice was arsenic - trioxide, which has caused some to speculate it was a case of affaire de coeur. Now the major concern of colleagues, friends and well-wishers is whether he will recover from this near fatal intervention.
Dears, more anon.
Then the scramble is now on for the preferred invites for the holiday season and already the buzz is all about the anticipated Port Antonio shindig of the fabulous Francesca von Habsburg. In Montego Bay it's all about Michelle Rollins, as this is the second city's premier social outing of the season. Here in the nation's capital the coveted invite is that of the popular Stony Hill party, and already the queues are forming.
RICH AND FAMOUS ARRIVALS
Expect the rich and famous to start arriving as of next weekend as it's destination Jamaica and they will be pouring in from all over the globe for a little sun, sea and fun, beginning with Joe English who is now on his 105th visit, and pumpkins, it promises to be all that, and then some!
St. Bart's, London, Paris and New York are just some of the world capitals that will see a contingent of Jamaicans jetting in to blow out the old year and welcome the new; with The Royal Plantation in fabulous Ocho Rios; Hedonism II in 'sin-sational' Negril; and Hedonism III near Salem, Runaway Bay, being the preferred resorts for those wishing to get away from it all and either bask in unabashed luxury or simply live it up to the max in a fab-friendly party atmosphere.
And speaking of fabulous people and places, my dears, if y'all missed the cut for last weekend's contemporary artistic showpiece titled 'One Love, Many Faces', hosted at the Hope Road former home of reggae's anointed king, Bob Marley, then you missed a treat, and then some.
You have all read here of the fabulous Francesca von Habsburg, she being the spirited daughter of the late German industrialist von Thyssen, the great grandson of the last Austrian Emperor, Archduke Ferdinand.
Well, Francesca is one of Europe's leading art patrons, her T-B A21 Foundation, founded in 2002, and based in Vienna, Austria, the leading sponsor of contemporary art since its establishment has amassed a fabulous collection of works from the 21st century especially in the field of new media.
T-B A21 Mission - To support through co-productions and unique commissions the creation of new works from artists who contribute important positions to the contemporary art practice.To understand the concept as well as to fully live the experience, one needs to visit the now showing 'One Love, Many Faces, Legend' exhibition on display at the Hope Road headquarters of the Bob Marley Foundation. Chairman of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, Francesca von Habsburg unveiled her latest international commission - a portrait of the famed reggae icon like no other. Artist Candice Breitz uses videography to further cement the majesty of Marley and the all-embracing content of his lyrics, to make her work take on a new life and meaning in her debut in Jamaica.
Dears, scheduled to run through to January 3 next year, the exhibit is definitely a must see.
