- CLAUDINE HOUSEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
An ice sculpture depicting one of the characters in the Chinese alphabet. The theme of the event was the 'Chinese Year of the Dog'.
Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
ONE OF western Jamaica's premier fund-raising events, the Hanover Charities Sugar Cane Carnival 2006, was nothing short of magnificent.
Hosted under the theme: 'Chinese Year of the Dog' at the Round Hill Hotel in Montego Bay last Saturday, Sugar Cane Carnival 2006 was superbly executed.
The doors were manned by three young ladies, Ericka Robertson, Jordan Williams and Alanna Williams, who dressed in their Chinese garb complete with Chinese hair ornaments, welcomed guests, proffered directions to seating area and gave out oriental fans.
The Chinese motif, complete with red and yellow accents, lanterns, ice sculptures, umbrellas and bamboo shoots, was everywhere.
HIGH GEAR
Having started off with cocktails at about 7:00 p.m., the carnival got into high gear shortly after 8:00 p.m. with Chinese flute music and a lion dance to ward of evil spirits and encourage good luck. Tribute was also paid to the family of past Hanover Charities (HC) chairman, Paula Watkins, who died recently.
"Let us give the Watkins family a tribute in their very difficult time," said HC board member and Master of Ceremonies, Josef Forstmayr.
"Paula was strong to the very last second. She was in the library counting the raffle tickets until the final moment," he continued. "I am a great believer in spirits and I can feel her spirit with us tonight, and I want to thank her on behalf of all us for putting so much effort into this association."
Celebrating its 49th year since its inception in 1957, the Hanover Charities is a non-profit, exclusively charitable organisation, which was developed out of a need to improve the quality of life for individuals in the parish of Hanover.
"It has really progressed into one of the most substantial charitable functions on the island. We collected US$190,000 (J$12,160,000) in one night last year," Mr. Forstmayr said. "With that money we support many different agencies, concentrating on the young and the old the two segments of our society that really don't have a lot of help."
SOCIAL CALENDAR HIGHLIGHT
Hailed as one of the highlights on Montego Bay's social calendar, they raised money from ticket sales, donations and a silent auction, which is conducted in U.S. dollars.
"All the things for the silent auction are donated," Mr. Forstmayr explained. "There are about 180 items on the silent auction tonight that are really priceless. The hottest items tonight are some furs by Patsy Johnson, fashion by Ralph Lauren, beautiful art by Budhai and 18th century prints. We also have a Michael Lester for US$35,000 that we hope to sell for at least US$35,000."
With over 300 hundred guests, each at US$200 per ticket, and items being purchased at sometimes five times their value, one thing was certain - the Sugar Cane Carnival 2006 was a resounding success.
Among the guests were newly-appointed U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, Brenda LaGrange Johnson; Ambassador of Mexico to Jamaica, Ms. Leonora Rueda; and Rose Hall Development's Michelle Rollins.
