Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Chairman of Cable and Wireless plc, Richard Lapthorne (right), presents former president of Cable and Wireless Ja., Carl Chantrielle, with a special award as Cable and Wireless Ja. held a dinner for its top executives last Thursday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

There were so many top executives from Cable and Wireless at this event; if there was a massive disaster, there would be no one left to run the place!

Executives of Cable and Wireless Jamaica (C&WJ) hosted executives from C&W International and C&W plc at a dinner in Stony Hill last Thursday. There was no denying the magnitude of the event. These were not no-names from the parent company; these were individuals from the highest echelons of Cable & Wireless. Also, the UK-based contingent of executives had not visited a foreign territory since 1999; and the fact they chose Jamaica was quite the feather in the local cap.

C&WJ took the opportunity to honour one of its longest-serving directors, Milton Weise, who is retiring after 18 years. His citation credited him with being a man of unquestioned loyalty, sound judgement, integrity, excellence and dedication. Weise was a member of the board when the company was Jamintel. His dedication and commitment had impacted the growth of company.

Satisfied

In his reply, Weise said he was satisfied he was leaving at a time when the board was gaining strength. He recalled the fierce competition brought on by liberalisation, but thought the company rode the waves well.

"It's not the strength of the waves and the sea, it's how you set your sails," he said.

Richard Lapthorne, chairman of Cable and Wireless plc, admitted that even the plc had been taken aback by the liberalisation, but reiterated that they weren't in a race to finish second.

"We have the foundation for something great. We always did, we just went to sleep a bit," he remarked. Lapthorne would then present two former presidents of C&WJ, Gary Barrow and Carl Chantrielle, as well as former chairman Mayer Matalon, with awards for their service.

Entertainment was provided by the always excellent Dwight Richards and Friends.

Guests included president of C&WJ Rodney Davis and wife Nadja; Harris Jones, CEO of C&W International; head of public affairs at Cable and Wireless plc Paul James; Errol K. Miller; Sonja Sutherland-Dumetz; Vinay Walia; Robert Bryan; J. Paul Morgan; Evan Garricks and Camille Facey.