Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Tournament organiser Alistair MacBeath (left), presents Blaise Hart with cash and prizes after Hart emerged as backgammon champion at last Saturday's tournament held at the Strawberry Hill Hotel Spa. - CONTRIBUTED
LUVS, CELEBRITY birthdays in the air with multi-talented Stephen 'Cat' Coore of Third World fame who celebrated last Thursday by jetting into the island from his Florida home for a little rest and relaxation with family and friends.
Special birthday wishes to the lovely Barbara Setalsingh who celebrates her special day tomorrow. Doves, the partying was at the now 'in' spot, The Alibi, and, my word, how!
And speaking of the fabulous jetting in!
My dears, the simply gorgeous beauty Susie Crosbie, (now Mrs. Susie Bridges), formerly of St. Andrew, but now domiciled in California, jetted into the island on Tuesday, along with her fabulous teenage children Bianca and Jordan Bridges.
The former high-fashion model and beauty and her children will spend a few days guesting with family and friends before heading for the island's North Coast to whoop it up for the Easter holidays.
BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT
Also expected to jet into the island tomorrow is the sensationally fabulous Andrea Budhai, beauty and model, now turned mortician and resident of New York.
And if y'all missed the fabulous inaugural backgammon tournament over there at the fabulous Strawberry Hill Hotel Spa, last Saturday, then you missed something!
Luvs, it was a fun-filled family affair, (well, sort of), with Blaise Hart walking away with the championship cup and cash and prizes totalling just under half a-million dollars.
Backgammon enthusiasts Lenny Chin came in second and for his efforts he too walked away with cash and prizes as did the third-place winner Ryan Lowe, and fourth and fifth placed participants Alistair Macbeath and Jonathan Todd.
And luvs, there were some hot prizes there for the winning too, as there were packages from MaxBrown Clothiers, weekends at the Caves, Negril, and Strawberry Hill, Chivas Regal, jewellery and loads of Appleton.
PATTERSON'S RETIREMENT
There were many who thought P.J. Patterson would actually give up the office of Prime Minister and or president of the People's National Party (PNP). But with the swearing-in of a new Prime Minister, the word is out and once again about the on-again, off-again, little reception to toast Mr. Patterson's political retirement.
The telephone calls went out last week, and on Monday, ironically the day Mr. Patterson celebrated his birthday, there was a small, but august gathering, comprising a number of leading socialites, business-potentates and political operatives who gathered in Manor Park, in upper St. Andrew, to break bread and make merry on his retirement from political life!
Dears, it was one charmer of an affair, a champagne do, if you please, as a critically hand-picked shortlist of the fabulous gathered in the home of a prominent businessman and known political supporter of the PNP, but who has been voicing his opposition to Patterson's 'leadership style' that, as he saw it, led to a weakening of the structures and checks and balance within the party.
CHANGING FACE OF PNP
My daahlings, y'all would never have thought it but apparently this was not an uncommon position within the ranks of some ardent PNP members and supporters. And so, over flutes and saucers of champagne, some tasty treats, the night was spent swapping anecdotal stories/evidence of Patterson's stewardship that changed the face of the PNP from that of being an upstanding organisation, dedicated to the upliftment of the masses, to that of a corrupt buddy-buddy network, defrauding the people it was empowered to serve.
Honeys, it was the kind of stuff that most have been whispering for years, but few have had the courage to openly discuss in public, and it made for one very interesting night.
Don't expect to see a list of those present here, suffice it to say, there were some of the usual suspects, as well as a mighty surprising number of actual PNP insiders.
It was, however, a case of two parties, as while there were those who met on Monday, (the former Prime Minister's actual birthday), to review and contextualise his stewardship of the country, Sunday afternoon, saw a another critically hand-picked shortlist of friends gathering at his St. Andrew residence for a celebratory prelude to the actual birthday.
Luvs, the buzz here is that this one was a social and political 'A-Crowder', and then some!
And speaking of 'A-crowders', it's all about the North Coast, for the city's fabulous set this weekend with the very well-to-do all set to go a-partying over there on millionaire's row in Discovery Bay with at least one hot party slated for this very fabulous enclave.
The equally fabulous resort community of Silver Sands will be jumping as well, as this is where the fabulous couple of Andrew and Moya Baston, will be celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary.
The party capital of the Caribbean, Hedonism Resorts will be kicking like everybody's business as they move into overdrive this Easter weekend and Hedo III is where I'll be!
