Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor 
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson (right) in a relaxed mood with Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke and Sonia Rickards. They were at the annual fund-raising dinner for charities in the Prime Minister's Eastern Westmoreland constituency. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
FOR 15 years, the Chinese New Year celebrations have been the vehicle through which friends of Prime Minister P.J. Patterson have presented their annual fund-raiser for the benefit of charities in his Eastern Westmoreland constituency. The event is spearheaded by party stalwarts Mavis 'Pinky' Bowers and Monica Chen and hosted at the latter's Seymour Avenue residence. Mr. Patterson has been the patron throughout the years and Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke has also been a special guest at the parties.
With this being the final year of Mr. Patterson's leadership of the ruling People's National Party, last week Saturday night marked the final in the annual fund-raisers. Apart from the usual scrumptious Chinese fare, several paintings are usually auctioned and many of the island's top musical performers have lent their voices to the charity.
Among them is singer/actor/ songwriter Jimmy Cliff. A past student of Somerton All-Age School in St. James, Cliff shares that distinction with the Prime Minister, and at this year's event Mr. Patterson announced that a Centre for Excellence is being created at the school and will be named in honour of the international reggae superstar. Mr. Patterson said approval would be sought from Cabinet to have the centre named after Jimmy Cliff.
HIGHLIGHTS
The night's highlights included a thrilling performance by singer A.J. Brown, the usual energetic delivery by Dwight Richards and Friends, Jimmy Cliff's unforgettable I Can See Clearly Now dedicated to the Prime Minister and Governor-General. There was also a very engaging reading of poetry inspired by his father's wisdom from Easton Lee.
But perhaps what everyone who has been a guest at the prestigious party over the years will remember is the absolute wit, rib-tickling humour and downright irreverent utterances from master of ceremonies Keith Binns. He has over the years been able to coax more funds for charity out of the pockets of wealthy guests that the Finance Minister ever could from delinquent taxpayers.
And at the end, the Prime Minister, clad in a beautiful shirt with an oriental design, expressed his heartfelt thanks to everyone. "This is not a night for speechifying but I have to acknowledge that despite our ethnic and political differences, Jamaicans can come together as one family," Mr. Patterson said.
"I want to say a special thanks Monica Chen who has been a great hostess over the years and Mavis 'Pinky' Bowers, without whom this could not have been possible, and Keith Binns, the cream of the crop it could not have been the same without you."
The Prime Minister also recognised the talent of all the musicians who had performed every year, especially on Saturday night.
