Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Lady of the moment, Minister of Information, Sports Youth and Culture, Oliva 'Babsy' Grange with Mini Miss Jamaica, Tashay Myers, prior to the independence celebrations on Wednesday. - Norman Grindley /Deputy Chief Photographer

Oh, my dears, so many parties, so very little time! Where are the private aeroplanes when you need them? Oh, well, we pray and press on!

My daahlings, 'hooray, hooray, what a festival', as the song says!

Pumpkins, kudos to the indefatigable minister of sports, information, youth and culture, on her stroke of genius, in reviving the grand gala celebration at the National Stadium as the fitting climax to the annual Independence celebrations.

My dears, it was just what the doctor ordered, and then some - and Kingston was so much the better for its return.

Luvs, we are talking about a cultural and artistic explosion of the fabulous kind with some happening street dances and concerts, everywhere from Kingston, the nation's capital, all the way to the tourism and entertainment capital of Montego Bay!

Display of ingenuity

The streets of Kingston were a kaleidoscope of innovative styles and fashion, as the creative individualism of our people rose to the fore and exploded in one phantasmagoric display of ingenuity, serving as a more than fitting testament to the 46th year of our independence from the yoke of colonialism!

My daahlings, despite our continuing teething pains, this land and its people make for one mighty fine place.

So, kudos all around to our forebears who fought the good fight, intellectually and in the trenches, to secure our right to self-determination.

Champagne toasts all around Jamaica, on this your 46th anniversary as an independent nation.

A toast to you and the many great sons and daughters you have nurtured and continue to!

Partying

Then, my daahlings, who needs an excuse to party?

Well, my dears, most certainly not the thousands of young party animals, who descended on Negril, last weekend for the now annual ATI/RTI orgy of parties! What a convocation!

Y'all know that Negril is one fabulous of the finest holiday/party destinations anywhere in the world.

Well, the ATI/RTI weekend was the great-grandmother of all getaways, as the young and restless, the bold and beautiful, and everybody and their friends opted for the buffet of parties that unfolded in Jamaica's most hedonistic holiday spot!

And, since what happens in Negril, stays in Negril, y'all will simply have to party on down next year to discover just how yummy it all was!

Love in the air

Then, my daahlings, long and lasting love is definitely in the air!

And we do mean the staying kind, as last week saw the affable Minister of National Security, Senator Colonel Trevor MacMillan and his wife, the very charming Dr Olivia McDonald, celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. It was all very intimate and fab as the couple toasted love and togetherness with family and friends.

And, looking on at this couple, one would never have thought it, but the very charming duo of Tal and Denise Stokes marked their 24th wedding anniversary on Sunday, with an intimate lunch, both looking as fabulous as ever and still every bit in love as when they first exchanged their 'I dos'.