Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer 
Guardsman chairman Kenny Benjamin assists Mable Tenn, the company's oldest client, to cut the anniversary cake. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Some 30 years ago when a young man, bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, decided on venturing out into the world of business, few thought his proposed business venture was more than another half-baked notion. But that was then, and this is now, and so today, the business that grew out of his passion and love for animals has matured, and to mark the occasion, last Saturday the business being the Guardsman Security, its founder and chairman, Kenny Benjamin, threw a downright snazzy reception dinner and party. Venue was the Guardsman Group headquarters at 107 Old Hope Road, and it was as delightfully fabulous as fabulous gets!
The Dragon arrives. Veteran entertainer Byron Lee (right) greets Kenny Benjamin. In background are Shirma Rogers (second left) and Caron Martin (partly hidden).
My daahlings, we are talking an absolutely engaging affair to say thanks to both clients and staff who have made the brand, recognised and celebrated here in Jamaica and across the Caribbean. The host, in a brief address to those gathered, heaped praises on his clients and his staff, and singled out the illustrious Mable Tenn for her role in recognising the potential of his fledgling company by being the company's first client.
Bottoms up! Attorneys (from left) Elizabeth Salmon, Monique Cohen, Lois Murray and Judith Carter livin' it up.
Today, the Guardsman Group of Companies includes a near 6,000-strong cadre of private security personnel; tourism and technological interests; a botanic garden, petting zoo and family playground; and vast real estate holdings.
Anyway, my darling dears, for the milestone anniversary celebrations, the in-house decorator, Cindy Breakspeare, went to town, transforming the parking lot/greenhouse into a fabulous continental-styled lounge, complete with red carpet (which later acted as a promenade).
Fabulous hostesses
Milton Brady shows off his dance moves with wife Charlotte.
The reception line was headed by Kenny Benjamin, the group's general manager Mrs. Valerie Juggan-Brown, and PR/ marketing director, Mrs. Sheila Benjamin McNeill, who warmly welcomed their guests before a bevy of fabulous young hostesses ushered them into the inner sanctum of the designated party area.
And when we say party area, my dears, we do mean party area, as we are talking martini kiosk; family-room styled lounge areas; café-style seating, bandstand for the Caribbean's hottest party band, Byron Lee and The Dragonaires, and dance floor for the party hearty. My dears, it was all there, and the best thing being, not for show, but for utilisation and children, it made for a fabulous party, with a difference. The difference here being unimpeachable style!
And so it was, with a feast fit for the absolutely fabulous, the well-heeled and the chic in attendance, premium libations flowing and then some, my dears, it was hard not to have a very good time. It was the wee hours of Sunday before it all came to a close. But my dears, talk about partying fashionably well, it was that, and then some, as Byron Lee and his Dragonaires played up a fabulously hot tempo that had guests partying like it was hot.
Col. Audley Carter (left) of Guardsman Limited welcomes businessman Lyttleton 'Tanny' Shirley to the company's 30th anniversary party.
Among those out for the celebrations were: Health Minister Ruddy Spencer; Senator Trevor McMillan and his wife Dr. Olivia McDonald; head of EU delegation, His Excellency Ambassador Marco Marzocchi-Alemanni; Hon. Dennis and Diane Lalor; Joe Matalon and his fabulous wife Mrs. Bernadette McKinley Matalon; the lovely Suzie Benjamin; the lovely Aloima Suarez; American international venture capitalist and financial consultant Mark Jones and his fab wife Julie Jones.
We saw Milton Brady and his lovely wife Mrs. Charlotte Brady; attorney Robert Baugh; Burger King's Mrs. Lois Sherwood, her lovely daughter Ann Ventura and her hubby Frank Ventura; Barita Investment's Carl Lewin and his fab wife Rita Humphries-Lewin; Blue Cross's Dr. Henry Lowe; Mrs. Betty Ashley; Ron Brown; Joe and Bev Moses; Rae Barrett; Evan and Betsy Williams; Keith and Janet Senior; Cedric and May Evans; Yvonne Wilks of Digicel; Rupert Bent and wife Cindy Breakspeare; Harold Brady; PRO's Hubert Chin and his wife Jean Lowrie-Chin; Freddy Dumetz and wife the tres elegant Sonja Sutherland Dumetz; Michael Benjamin of J. Wray and Nephew; Tanny Shirley; Betty-Ann Jones Kerr; Mr. and Mrs. Byron Shirley; Vinay Walia; Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Jones; Rajiv Bakshi and his companion Dorothea Gordon-Smith, her daughter Taquise Gordon-Smith.
Also out were: David and Terry Shoucair; Tarun and Catherine Handa; Joseph Adduci; Rajan and Sonia Trehan; Nigel Black and his companion Major Johanna Lewin; Neil Robinson; Kathy-Ann Pyke squired by celebrated hunk Miguel Bernard; Cherita Hall; Stephen and Charmaine Laing of Tara Couriers; Robert Haughton; the lovely Monique Cohen; David Williams; Major George Kates; the charming Elizabeth Salmon; Dave Rodney, in from New York; Lois Murray; the gorgeous René Menzies-McCallum; Ms Hotness herself, the stunning Audrey Miller; and head of Guardsman, Col. Delroy Ormsby; plus several scores others.
