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WHAT a Party!

Published:Sunday | December 5, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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Captain Gail Ranglin (left), Col Desmond Edwards and Melissa Chang pose for the social pages.
Pretty girls all in a row: (from left) Sandals Resorts International's Khadine Daley and Cheryl Douse along with Staysie's Boutique's Staysie Spence.
From left: Deputy chairman of ATL Autohaus, Adam Stewart, Sandals Resorts International's director of corporate communications, Rachel McLarty, and chairman of the group, Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, in a little powwow.- Photos by Janet Silvera
The ageless Sophia Max Brown.- Photos by Janet Silvera
From left: A picture of loveliness - Kathy Dear, Caryll McDonald, Devona Reynolds, Sharon Williams and Suki Kapahi.
From left: Harold and Denise Williams gets a photo op with ATL's Andrew Brennan.
From left: Anthony Watson, Paula Kerr-Jarrett, Jeanne Watson and Diane Stewart strike it bold.
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Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

It will long be remembered as the party of the year in western Jamaica, not just because the invitations were so cleverly designed but because it incorporated all the elements of a well-thought-out plan. Think: a guest list comprising 1,400 of the island's movers and shakers; a venue strategically located in the tourist capital, Montego Bay; jaw-dropping European models, bars and food stations at every turn, endless room to move under the stars; fabulous live and recorded music; and, best of all, perfect weather.

Gordon 'Butch' Stewart and the team from ATL laid it on thick for the opening of the opening of the automobile store at Bogue City Centre on Friday, November 26. The formalities were a bit lengthy, but ears perked up when heir to the Sandals Resorts throne and deputy chairman of the new dealership, Adam, Stewart, got up to speak. He called on the government to lower duties in order to make cars more affordable and to move to move to the use of clean fuel - key to the future. In short, "let Jamaica breathe again".

fantastic prizes

But although the cheers were loud in response to his call, guests were eagerly awaiting their chance to sit in the new models on show. There were endless clusters of persons just eager to savour the feel and smell of leather interiors and, most of all, try the keys that had been affixed to the impressive invitations. Many secretly harboured hopes that the keys would actually unlock the doors of a new set of wheels, but instead, they opened padlocked glass boxes that contained some fantastic prizes!

But the substitutes did not disappoint, as the much-coveted loot included an all-expense-paid trip to next year's Indy 500 race in Indiana, US, as well as an iPad!

So, when the boss man is the owner of the Sandals chain, who better to cater the most lavish affair in town? The hotel's culinary masters, of course. And they did not disappoint. There were food stations representing Jamaican, Mediterranean and Italian favourites, libations from well-stocked bars, Café Blue's gourmet hot beverages and one tent of heavenly, sweet delights courtesy of the master chef Purmessur Veejooruth and his team.

And with the location having been blessed by Monsignor Eremondo Muavesi, guests mingled, ate, drank and made merry on the dance floor to both live and recorded music. Just when we thought the party had surpassed all exciting boundaries, huge Chinese lanterns floated high above in the night sky, eliciting gasps of delight from everyone. What a topper!

Among the scores of guests we spotted were: David Rosen; Brian Stephenson; Brian Sang; Colin Hylton; Brian Pengelley; Andrew Brennan; Richard and Diana Stewart; Richard Hamilton; Rachel McLarty; Don and Ayesha Creary; Kerry Ann Clarke and Pablo Burke, Kimoy Steele, Desmond Steele, Trisha K. Thompson, Ann-Marie Vaz and husband, Information Minister Daryl Vaz,Tara Playfair Scott and Rockmond, Paul and Becky Stockhausen, Richard Harris, Christina Samuda, Brian and Shelagh Jardim, Phillip Schwapp, Mark Hart and wife Candace; Walter Elmore; Lloyd B. Smith; Tarrick McIntosh; Minna Israel; Anthony and Jeanne Watson, Anna Hislop; Norman and Jean Wright; Sophia Allen; Ingrid Lowe; Sandra Kennedy; Fred Hudson; Cherine Anderson; Paula Kerr-Jarrett; Jamie Stewart McConnell; Lisa Lake and several more.