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JCC Charity Ball: 30 years and counting

Published:Sunday | November 13, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Scotiabank President Bruce Bowen snuggles up to wife Suzann. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Chairman of the Civic Affairs Committee of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Sameer Younis and wife Leila take to the dance floor.
From left: Shelly and Stephen Chang, Angie and Michael Ammar Jr step into the charity ball followed closely by Rosanna and Gassan Azan.
The always elegant Marilyn Bennett was definitely up-and-about.
Power couple Lisa and Stephen Bell.
NCB's Winston Lawson (second right) and wife Camille (right), get the Kodak moment treatment with his parents, Winston Lawson Sr and Joyce Lawson.
Gary and Cheryl Peart make an entrance.
Entertainer Lloyd Lovindeer is sandwiched by Nerisha Nathan (left) and Paulette Chen.
Sharing camera time are (from left) Justice Ingrid Mangatal, Petagae McCook and Claudine Shoucair.
It was celebration time of a different kind for Cari-Med boss Glen Christian as wife Marva celebrated her birthday. Over a bottle of bubbly, the loving couple share a 'chuups'.
Davon Crump (left) of Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, Andrew Fazio (second right), director of business solutions at Columbus Business Solutions, part of the Flow network; Jeanette Lewis, PR manager at Flow, and Michael McMorris (right), chairman VMBS, are all smiles at the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce's Charity Ball. The event was held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Saturday, November 5. - Contributed
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Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

There are balls and then there is the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Ball.  The Civic Affairs Committee of the JCC hosted its 30th annual charity ball on Saturday, November 5, at its usual home, The Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

That it has not only survived but expanded in the three decades is testament to the significance placed on the event, widely considered the 'kick-off' to the Christmas festivities. And this year was no different, as the corporate luminaries came out.

Part of the ball's allure is that the proceeds support the JCC's inner-city development projects and the Civic Affairs Committee's family life and family values campaign. Woman Special Constable Natoya Lawrence, a graduate of the JCC's Youth Leadership Training Programme, lauded it for bridging the gap between the police and the inner-city residents. She encouraged financial support for it as she feels it helps to build communities.

This year, head of the Civic Affairs Committee, Sameer Younis, was given a special mention. Apart from his usual toasting with a rendition of My Way, and his usual roasting from perennial MC Dr Aggrey Irons, he was given a citation by the committee members. Younis was lauded for giving selflessly to the chamber, community and country. His over four decades of service have seen him spearheading a number of programmes for which he was duly recognised. He was also lauded for keeping faith in the nation's youth and for his personality, drive and dedication; all qualities that have helped to drive the growth of the special event.

The indefatigable Dr Irons quipped that with the ball theme being '30 Years ... and Still We Rise', unofficial sponsors were Viagra et al. A few jabs at British Prime Minister David Cameron's recent comments and wondering aloud whether young PM Andrew Holness was old enough to be out that late, he was his irreverent best. Entertainment-wise, the ball is never left wanting, not with established ball players Floyd Folkes and Fab 5 on hand.

Both showed their range of material again, Folkes delivering his smooth vocals with his trusty guitar and tracks aplenty. Always the one to welcome the early guests, and to give your ears a musical feast as you dine, he never put a note wrong. The consummate showband, Fab 5, is celebrating 40 years in the business. And though some of the attendants weren't born when this band first started swinging, that matter of timing didn't keep them pasted to their seats once the music got going.

And then there was diva Keisha Patterson. We're not sure where in that petite frame her booming voice emanates, but she rocked the ballroom once again with her style, pizzazz and presence during the cabaret session. Whether she purred on pieces like Hey Big Spender, or got groovy on Perfidia and One Life To Live, she was again a crowd favourite. Around 12:30 a.m., Fab 5 were back at it, the audience more than willing to make acquaintance with the dance floor.

Guests out included former Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall; Canadian High Commissioner Stephen Hallihan and wife Cathy; Domincan Republic Ambassador José German; Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner Dr Iva Gloudon; Alex Crowther; Hubie Chin and wife Jean; Brian and Lisa-May Pengelley; Stephen and Lisa Bell; Dave DaCosta and Stephanie Lumley; Gareth Geddes; Trisha Thompson; Michael and Angie Ammar; Donovan and Michelle Perkins; Professor Rosalea Hamilton; Douglas and Michelle Orane; Igor and Elena Dorofeev; George Habib; Lascelles and Eileen Chin; Kevin and Kimberly Chin-Shue; May Lawrence-Evans and Debra Taylor.