Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Left: Canada's High Commissioner Claudio Valle (left) and Noel DaCosta, president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, laugh at the weather at Canada's National Day reception, held at the High Commissioner's residence, Seymour Avenue, last year.
Right: Mark Ridgard (centre), general manager of Organic Thinkers Limited, Fay Jacobs (left) and Ambassador Clelia Barreto de Hunter enjoy sorrel drinks produced by his company. They were all speakers at the launch of the 'Real Jamaican Sorrel', held at the Hilton Kingston hotel, Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, on Tuesday June 27. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
MY DEARS, it's now Kenneth Benjamin, founder/chairman of the Guardsman Group of Companies, has now joined the ranks of dignitaries and powerbrokers here, called to represent the interest of a country with no diplomatic mission here.
So it was that last weekend the security conglomateur and bon vivant, known internationally for his fabulously celebrated soirees, dinner parties and tres elegant affairs jetted off to New York where he was presented with his instrument of office, by the Ukrainian Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
And just in time for his birthday celebration too.
But speaking of things diplomatic. Tonight it's all about those fabulous Canadians as they celebrate their country's National Day, in red and white splendour, to commemorate Canada's National Day!
My daahlings, here in Kingston, its all about the fabulous reception being thrown by Canadian High Commissioner HE Claudio Valle and his fashionable and so tres fab and belissima Grande wife,
Mrs. Louise Valle, at the official residence in St. Andrew's
much prized golden triangle neighbourhood.
Honeychiles, it's the Valles last official hosting of Canada Day as their country's first citizens in Jamaica and tonight's reception is expected to be a love fest and then some. The Valles are not only social staples along the boulevards of high-society here in Kingston and across the island, they are honorary Jamaicans and will remain so because of the love and commitment they have shown to the people through their decades of association.
And then if celebrating Canada's National Day is not enough reason to party hard and hearty, tomorrow actually being July 1, the tres elegant Mrs. Valle, will be celebrating her birthday, so y'all can expect tonight's celebration to continue into tomorrow morning to embrace the occasion!
So honeys, all in all, it promises to be one fabulous Friday night!
And speaking of birthdays; on Tuesday, my dears, it was all about the fabulous Betty Ashley, as the former premier life underwriter, now owner of Betty's Plant and Garden Supplies and known in the fab set for her absolutely marvellous plants, especially orchids, opted to spend time talking and nurturing them!
But expect parties all around next week as both celebrated hotelier Peter Fraser of the Royal Plantation, in Ocho Rios; manufacturer Billy Woung, will be marking special birthdays. Fraser at his Ocho Rios home will be low-keyed and restricted to immediate family and close friends; whilst Woung will be guesting with family, here in the city, as they laud him on his special day!
My dears, it will be a very busy second half of the year for the stork, as among those expecting deliveries soon will be Dr. Jonathan Greenland and his charmingly fab wife, Dr. Rebecca Tortello-Greenland. Also expecting a delivery will be recent newly weds Christopher Whyms-Stone and his fab wife Nicola Sykes.
And no, the fabulous Jody Hart-Wohl, and her hubby Aaron Wohl, too are expecting the stork to stop by come later this year, so y'all can expect a bumper deliveries all around!
Now the charming and oh so fab, Louise Finnegan, of Digicel Jamaica, is all set to leave Kingston, where she has been a part of the chic set for the last three years, to now take up an assignment in Digicel's newest and hottest Caribbean outpost - Haiti, where the fab party diva is all set to become that cellular provider hot new marketing bella donna!
And then my dears, after countless goodbye receptions hosted in his honour, not to mention dinners, cocktails and or intimate little doos, which were all capped by his own spectacular number, HE Dennis Francis, Trinidad and Tobago's former First Citizen to Jamaica, took his leave of theses shores two Mondays ago, and this was after three other scheduled departure dates.
God speed, as indeed, the Twin Island Republic's Diplomatic profile will be well served with Ambassador Francis's posting to Geneva as his country's Permanent Representative to the UN there.
And, my dears, the fabulous Annabela Seaga-Zia-Mian, will be in town next week!
And the fabulous Verna Parchment, is contemplating walking down the aisle my dears, so continue reading these pages.
And some are saying he's bankrupt, while others are saying the interest on his investments is keeping in the style he's always enjoyed. The truth is, no one really knows, because there's that bill at that hire-purchase establishment with outlets all over but none in upper-St. Andrew, that is still unpaid, so more anon!
