Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Mayor McKenzie welcomes Chinese Ambassador Chen Jinghua and wife Xiao Linhua.

Let it never be said the mayor of Kingston doesn't know how to express his thanks.

Desmond McKenzie hosted another of his appreciation parties on Saturday, December 29. This shindig has quickly become one of the most anticipated parties in the capital, partly for the great music and the come-as-you-are style.

The West Kingston councillor and senator is always one for a good time and his annual groove at Eden Gardens at the close of every year is the perfect opportunity to see him let his hair down, figuratively, of course.

"We only put out a few chairs for those 65 and over," he joked, indicating that this was no dull, finger-food type of get-together. His Worship practically demanded that guests take to the dance floor, and the obedient citizens they are, they did, indulging in the soca, rock steady and disco hits that dominated the night.

Guests included: Cuban Ambassador Gisela Garcia and husband Jorge Crespo; deputy head of mission at the Venezuelan Embassy, Madai Hernandez and husband Marcelo; Fae Ellington, Jodie Brown-Lindo, Gary Spaulding, Gillian Haughton, Cecil Thoms, Colin Blair, Archibald Gordon, Dionne Jackson-Miller, Norma Brown-Bell, Prudence Kidd-Deans, Mikael Phillips, Keriann Lee, Anthony Johnson, Carol Francis, Millicent Lynch and Taneisha Munroe.

Former West Indies cricketer Maurice Foster (centre) chats with Deputy Superintendent Cornwall 'Bigga' Ford and wife Delores Ford.

As customary at his post-Christmas affair, Mayor Desmond McKenzie opened the dance floor with wife Marcia. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Hmm, this conversation between Derrick Wilks and Simone Simpson seems to be quite intriguing.

The Plummer sisters (from left) Stacy, Sheryl and Shawna definitely added a glow to the mayor's proceedings.