Happy Birthday, Kenny

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

His accomplishments are many, but he, a migrant from India who arrived in Jamaica almost three decades ago, is essentially a rather shy personality, preferring to avoid the spotlight, opting to have the light on others.

Since making Jamaica his home, Kenny Benjamin has never looked back, and through industry and creativity has established one of the region's single largest private security company. But, it is for his generosity of spirit and philanthropy, for which he is most celebrated. Left up to him, his birthday would pretty much go unheralded, as he would opt for moments of reflective leisure, spent in the hills or the wild, communing with nature and playing around with his infant son, Brandon.

His staff however, would have none of it and despite his protestations each year, friends, family, business associates and leading members of the society are invited to join Benjamin at his Guardsman Group corporate headquarters on Old Hope Road, to toast him on his birthday. A Cancerean, his birthday was on Thursday, July 8. But the birthday festivities were actually held on Friday, July 9.

To begin with, the already jazzy outdoors, with its waterfall, koi ponds, gardens and hospitality deck, made the perfect backdrop for a snazzy do. The property was decorated to encompass continental ease, with café and polo lounge-style seating, we are talking haute-relaxation and style! It was easy as Sunday morning, as guests simply moved to the beat of their own drums, sharing and exchanging pleasantries and bon mots as they toasted each other, individually and collectively. Amidst the sips and spills, the chit-chatter and discourse, The Gloved Wonder, 'Michael Jackson', made a surprise appearance, with a phalanx of bodyguards proving that he has not lost it, thrilled with riveting performances. But it was Tracey July who evoked gusts of wind, from the rousing applause she got after her accapella performance of Hero, which she dedicated to the birthday boy!

Among the notables out were his first born, Nicholas; his companion Aloima Suarez; his sister, the lovely Sheila Benjamin McNeill and husband, Dr Wykeham McNeill; his group GM Valerie Juggan-Brown and husband Ron; Social Security and  Labour Minister Pearnel Charles; Opposition MP Dr Peter Phillips and wife Sandra; Opposition MP Phillip Paulwell; former security minister Col. Trevor MacMillan and wife Dr Olivia McDonald; High Court Judge Glen Brown; Police Commissioner Owen Ellington; Commissioner of Customs Danville Walker; Post Master General Michael Gentles; Indian High Commissioner Mohinder Grover; Spanish Ambassador Jesús Silva; the regal Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda; Honorary Consul of Iceland and Dean of the Consular Corps Robert MacMillan; Honorary Consul of Ghana, Patrick Lynch and his tres elegant wife Marguerite; Al Niazi; Dr John and Paddy Masterton; Douglas Orane; the lovely Rachel Gore-Saulter; Dr Henry Rainford; world famous beauty Cindy Breakspeare-Bent; and Ravi Roshlani.

Also out were socialite Jennifer Lim and her daughter Liz McAdam; Rae Barrett; the fabulous Minna Israel; Steve Ashley and wife Betty, looking positively flawless; Patrick Stannigar; Rosie Piliner; Dr Andre Foote; Ian Garbutt and his companion Sonia Khan; Harold Brady; Earl Patrick; Mark and Julie Jones; the charmingly lovely Janet Farrow; former deputy commissioner of police Mark Shields; the very charming Jean Lowrie-Chin; Frank Rosheuvel; the stunning Sophia Max-Brown and her lovely niece Karina; Ron Coke and wife Ethlyn Norton-Coke; Tanny Shirley; Paul Burke and wife Angela Brown-Burke; Dr David Lowe; Rajan and Sonia Trehan; Colin Steele; Evon and Betsy Williams; Roger Bell; the lovely Haverly Witter; William Craig; Tarun and Catherine Handa; the charming Pamela Redwood; the gorgeous Toni Parke-Moodie-Panton; the beautiful Bernadette Barrow; the lovely Sanjie Brown; the charming Allison Shaw; Michael-Anthony Cuffe Jr and his betrothed Tessanne Chin; and the lovely Sonja Sutherland Dumetz; plus a number of others.