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JHTA honours its own

Published:Sunday | November 6, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Women of RIU (from left): Niurka Linton, Rose Skinner, Katharina Doehler, Angella Bennett and Christina Dunbar putting some heat into the ballroom.
United States Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater shares lens time with retired member of parliament and former Health Minister John Junor at the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association 50th anniversary banquet.- Photos by Janet Silvera
Negril Tree House's Gail Jackson (left) and Viviene paul living it up and dancing up a storm.
From left: Loyal Haylette, Divya Annasingh and Carolyn McDonald-Riley pose for the social pages..
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett is flanked by Ritz-Carlton's Mureen James (left) and Stacy-Ann Greenwood.
Opposition Spokesman on Tourism, Dr. Wykeham McNeil, and wife Sheila pose for the Gleaner's camera.
The beautiful Anna-Kay Russell (left) and Shari Munroe.
From left: Mary Chambers, Karen Smith and Odette Dyer add some colour to the function.
Executive director of the Jamaica Hotel and tourist Association, Camille Needham, and husband Merrick were also in attendance.
Steve and Michelle James are the picture-perfect couple.
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Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:Former Tourism Minister Ambassador Frank Pringle was bitten by the Gem Myers bug, losing control of his legs at the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) 50th anniversary gala banquet on Saturday, October 29 at The Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall, Montego Bay.

Not only would Gem Myers bring the house down at the end of the evening, but her unmistakably scintillating performance was complemented by the soulful Karen Smith.

As if this was not enough, the 50th anniversary gala could not have happened without one of cabaret's most talented veterans, A.J. 'Boots' Brown.

It was an evening that saw the most powerful woman in tourism, president of the JHTA, Evelyn Smith, beside herself with pride and joy, as she sat next to the new prime minister, Andrew Holness, and his wife, Juliet, who were the toast of the tourism organisation's mega event and her husband, Joseph Smith.

It was a ritzy affair for the organisation formed in 1961, as it paid tribute to the men and women who have served the industry with distinction over the last 50 years.

Recognised for their contribution were past presidents, the affable Godfrey Dyer, the indomitable James Samuels, the quiet and unassuming Lionel Reid, the consummate professional Josef Forstmayr, an accomplished Horace Peterkin and the no-nonsense Wayne Cummings.

"Tonight, we salute our founders Ferdie Martin, Dick Delisser and others for their foresight and love of the business of tourism.  At great personal and financila cost, they traversed our country in the interest of a then fledgling industry dreaming of a day such as this when it would stand proudly as a great beacon of economic hope for our country." said Evelyn Smith.

The event was emceed by the golden voiced Donna Haynes, who did an excellent job of keeping the audience entertained.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com