'Twas a night to remember

Last Sunday, the curtains came down on the Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League's (JCCUL) Convention and 72nd annual general meeting, with the highly anticipated awards banquet. This following a weekend of meetings and workshops under the theme 'Renewed, Repositioned, Reshaping the Movement for the Future'.

The event created history by being the last conference to be held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel before its intended closure on May 20.

The highlight of the conference was, of course, the banquet, which was a spectacular event at which the popular Jamaican band C-sharp played its way into the hearts of the young and not so young. The music enveloped the room as guests savoured fine wine and the sumptuous banquet, deserving of their year-old effort to help transform the credit union movement.

Master of ceremonies Richard Burgess was at his best as he teamed with JCCUL's own Vera Lindo to take the guests through the evening's proceedings. Not to be outdone was Director Rodcliffe Robertson, who kept the audience in suspense as he announced the awards.

Guests came dressed to the nines looking fabulous and suave. Maybe it was the thought of the last hurrah for the Ritz-Carlton brand in Jamaica, or a satisfaction of achieving growth in the movement in 2012, despite the harsh economic climate. But whatever it was, the mood of the guests was like the essence of jasmine - light and lingering and oh-so effervescent.

Here are some highlights.