Protocol Disaster

1 It's the only talk on the blogs and on the cocktail circuit. And people are panning the recent high-profile event as being a protocol disaster of monumental proportions. The prime minister was jostled. The guest of honour was, too. No security! No order! A fiasco of gigantic proportions that was televised live for all to see.

INVITATION FOUL-UP

2 The invitation was either lost in the diplomatic pouch, or in the translation, but whatever the reason(s), and wherever it is, if indeed an invitation was extended and the 'wife' was expected to join other wives for tea, the invitation simply did not arrive, and for the envoy to suggest it might have been mishandled by staffers is bordering on incredulity.

Let's play frustration

3 Seems like more and more party supporters are now exploring the possibility of relocating to the Kingston 21 or the Islands. Even some of those who returned are now heading out again. As they say, the name of the game here is 'frustration'.

Ulterior motives

4 Word is that not all who came out did so to pay their respects, as the story is the MC's cellphone was stolen in the rush, as also that of one of those being celebrated.

THAT KISS

5 All are agreed the kiss was inappropriate, and simply bussing would have been the appropriate thing to do!

FINANCIAL SLOWDOWN

6 Some are asking if the powers that be are aware that we are currently in the eye of the financial storm. Occupancy levels are down across the board in the tourism sector. There is a slowdown in the construction sector. The crash of the schemes dried up local liquidity. And now the latest fallout in the American and world financial and equities markets have many proclaiming that all boast and bets are off now, when its comes to promised targets and performance.

RECEPTION OR GRUDGE-FEST?

7 Talk about being competitive! Some say the recent reception was, in reality, a grudge-fest, hosted to show up colleagues who have been stingy when they host similar functions. Especially those who put their guests through all kinds of travails and then, to add insult to injury, serve up some parochial fare at what is supposed to be a premier occasion.

Let's do the maths

8 Some are calling it a case of fuzzy maths, after one group recently laid claim to having some 2,400 supporting cast members and the other claiming near 3,000, from a pool that is roughly 4,000. According to some onlookers, it's either that, or some from Dovecot and May Pen cemeteries will also be participating.

Yes, you're 'honoured'

9 Word is these days that, before some people go anywhere, their handlers call ahead and suggest an award be given to 'honour'.

The big question

10 Those at the bar are still in shock and are now admitting that they refused to believe they heard correctly when the official asked the question, "What's in it for me?" when he was given a proposal that serves to benefit those he is supposed to serve.