Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
Left: Hanging out at the Appleton Treasure Island 2006 media launch are (from left) Brian Chung, John Burrowes, Patrick Gillings and Denise Dixon. The launch was held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, on Tuesday. Right: Wray and Nephew's Andrew Price (right) chats with David Walton, brand manager of Appleton Rum, and Catherine McDonald.
AHOY THERE mates! It was a real pirate's paradise on Tuesday in the middle of New Kingston.
J. Wray and Nephew launched its Appleton Treasure Island on Top Of The World at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel. Every guest was fitted out with pirate gear, including headscarves, eyepatches, earrings, rings and, of course, can't leave out the colourful beads.
The open air suite of the hotel was decorated with black, white and red flags decorated with the skull and crossbones of pirate lore. Some guests showed up in all black which simply added to their 'costumes'. So picture the setting. A bunch of first mates, captains and wenches strolling around the upper deck of their ship drinking brew. The evening breeze coaxing the flags made it seem like we were on the open sea. There were plenty of treasure chests lying around as well containing booty (not the anatomical one) and the best treasure of all: Appleton rum! Aarh!
David Walton, brand manager of Appleton Jamaica Rum, promised that "Negril will be transformed into the party capital of Jamaica and the Caribbean." The Independence weekend (August 4-7) will be a hectic one. All that will be happening is 11 parties and enough liquor to cause a tsunami if poured out at once. And for the music, some of Jamaica's finest sound systems and DJs will have some tipsy folks dancing.
So all those who plan to attend these activities, better get your rest now; there won't be time to sleep!
Left: Wray and Nephew's Marilyn Bennett chats with Rodney Davis, president of Cable and Wireless Jamaica. Right: Pirates all! (From left) Howard McIntosh, Wayne Sinclair and Robert Russell having cocktails in pirate gear, no less. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
