Portia's fab post-Budget reception

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

One of the fab up-sides of the annual budgetary exercise are the post-Budget receptions that friends, private-sector sponsors or political parties host to salute the presenters!

Some post-Budget receptions are more equal than others as that of the prime minister, the opposition leader and the finance minister enjoy prime-time billing. Now, with a general election expected between now and next year, it is that time again when all things in the active political arena take on a significance of their own. And as such, are scrutinised by observers and showboaters as a kind of reading of the political tea leaves! For many, what is essentially 'only a cocktail reception' plays into helping to define the party's political position and standing!

Rose to the occasion

Well on Thursday, May 5, following on the methodical presentation of her finance spokesman a few days earlier, it was the opposition leader's turn to woo the nation. And now, with the reviews in, it is fair to say that Portia Simpson Miller not only rose to the occasion, but delivered one of her finest performances by sticking to her core platform issues in highlighting her concern for the welfare of the dispossessed and the underclass, and the impact the Government's Budget is having on their ability to survive in these trying economic times!

Well, to salute her presentation, former parliamentarian Jennifer Edwards hosted a post-Budget presentation for Simpson Miller at the opposition leader's official offices on West Kings House Avenue, neighbouring Jamaica House. And luvs, it made for quite the political tête-à-tête! Political operatives will share that one of the difficulties of political parties is being able to mobilise their supporters when in opposition. When they are on the prowl however, and the whiff of political victory is in the making, there's no such challenge! Well, call it the 'whiff' of victory or a hope for a political wind of change, the People's National Party (PNP) hierarchy, its rank and file, as well as a number of high-profile business leaders, socialites and private-sector movers and shakers, were out making the evening one buzzing do!

Guests descended in droves to bask in the afterglow of the PNP leader's presentation. Along with her party elders, spokespersons, the venerable Senator K.D. Knight, his colleagues Patrick Atkinson, QC, and the charming Deborah Martin, of the Manatt inquiry fame, making for a fine outing! The fabulous Lorraine Fung did the catering honours and luvs, in her inimitable style, she served up one fabulous multi-ethnic fare that proved a most satisfying textured culinary reprise that is still being commented on because of its fabness! And with libations flowing and guests pouring in, and the general perception among the ranks of the PNP being that their political fortunes are on the upswing, dears, the occasion proved quite festive and nothing but. With music blaring from the speakers and political friends, colleagues and associates all out sharing with each other while embracing those not aligned in the spirit of friendship! It was quite the do, Simpson Miller a picture of graciousness and steely resolve as she made the rounds, meeting and greeting guests in her warm ebullient style!

Among those out were Party Chairman Bobby Pickersgill; VPs Fenton Ferguson and Noel Arscott; senior Senator A.J. Nicholson; Senators Mark Golding, and Basil Waite; Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Dr Omar Davies; MPs Phillip Paulwell, Michael Peart, Anthony Hylton, Dr Morais Guy, Lisa Hanna, Peter Bunting, Fitz Jackson, Natalie Neita-Headley and Ian Hayles.

Also spotted the honorary consul of Iceland, Robert MacMillan; businessman Delroy Howell, the new majority shareholder of the Wyndham Kingston hotel; Valerie Juggan-Brown of the Guardsman Group; businessman Tunty Barrett and his wife Ambassador Madge Barrett, and his brother Ginnard. Businessman Steve Ashley; the affable Prakash Vaswani; trade unionist and activist Lambert Brown; Granville Valentine; Winston 'Babatunde' Witter; economist Anne Shirley; former president of the Senate, the esteemed Syringa Marshall-Burnett; legal luminary Abe Dabdoub; Dr Winston Davidson; Paul Burke; Sophia Lowe; Michael Vacciana; former Tourism Minister Aloun Assamba; Richard Burgher; Michael Muirhead; the luvlies, Trisha Thompson and Lisa Lewis of Digicel; André Hylton; Joan Young-Davis; Fabian Graham; Patrick Roberts and Linval Hamilton; Denzil McDonald of Ocho Rios; the oh so charming Betty Barrett-Thompson; former Government Minister Colin Campbell; former junior Foreign Affairs Minister Delano Franklyn; former Senator Norman Horne; Dr Linval Broomfield in from Port Antonio; the charming Denise Daley of Linstead and candidate-in-waiting to replace Sharon Hay-Webster; the charming Pamela Redwood; Ralph Thomas; Robert Buddan; Andre Card; Terry Campbell; Leacroft Robothom; Luther Buchannan; Andrea Higgins; the eternal optimist Bunny Witter; former youth president Damion Crawford; and Makeda Ramgeet, plus a number of others!