Slicing the Negril pie

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

Daahlings, it's a beautiful week and then some, with that mid-week holiday being just what the doctor ordered.

But for the many Kingstonians who thought of heading out of town for a little sun and fun, it was no-go from Ocho Rios through to Negril, as the favourite resorts were not only booked solidly but, in some instances, overbooked - way into next month.

Talk about hot! Not only is destination Jamaica bubbling, it is the preferred choice of not only the chic and the international party hearty, but it's proving to be the coveted destination of the moneyed, who are simply queuing to buy a piece of the rock as their island getaway! And luvs, the hot new destination is Negril. Once viewed by the international vacationer as the ultimate getaway for a few weeks at a time, Negril is now the preferred locale to own a vacation home for the world's elite and are they piling in!

New development

Last weekend, word leaked that Robert Cartade of Selective Homes was about to unveil his new housing development - a 160-villa and townhouse development - with a few studios thrown in, in Negril, on that resort town's famous seven-mile beach. Well pumpkins, before y'all could say "where?", 40 units were gobbled up before even as much as a brick was laid! Cartade and his team will be breaking ground for their latest offering, the Little Bay Country Club, in what is expected to be a fab outing that will see friends, supporters and prospective purchasers coming in from all over the world, not only to be party to the event, but also to lay claim to their piece of the new resort-styled development. Dears, more anon, this is set to be Cartade's most successful development to date.

Now, for the lovers of jazz, tomorrow is a date with destiny, as the absolutely fabulously talented singer and entertainer, Myrna Hague, will take her one-woman concert to the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston. Luvs, the fabulous Hague is promising a concert of the finest musical order and guests can expect nothing less, as in the many decades that she has been performing in Jamaica, whether formally on the big stage or back in the days at the more informal Jazz in the Surrey Tavern at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Hague has never been anything but an exemplar of musical and professional excellence! And if her showing on Sunday at the Institute of Jamaica's lecture room/theatre was any measure of what is in store for patrons, tomorrow, then it will be nothing short of a musical jackpot, a definite must-go-see!

Birthdays

Happy birthday wishes to: the lovely Cheryl Ryman; business consultant and political power-player Robert Stephenson; the fab Dollis Campbell; the charmed Elizabeth Geddes; the lovely Nancy Walker; and the always fabulously beautiful Andrea Mundell-Bowen in London who all celebrate their birthday today.

Tomorrow, the charming Deborah Hickling; former model and fab beauty Kenisha Gooden-Gibson; and the lovely Lorraine Linton Campbell in New York, will celebrate their special day.

On Sunday, socialite Thalia Lyn; Pierre Lemaire; Ealane Livingstons Smith; Alvarista Yorke; the beautiful Taneisha Douglas; the lovely Tesah Linton; and the charming Shelly-Ann Peart James, formerly of St Andrew, Jamaica, now in St Lucia, all share the same birthday!

Next Monday, the positively fabulous Velia Espeut; businessman Carl Sharp; music industry power-player Errol O'Meally in London; and the lovely Sahai Delfosse-Ingleton in Florida will be partying on their special day!

Next Tuesday, Harriet Huber, wife of former German Ambassador Dr Christian Hausmann; the lovely Elizabeth Levy; and the lovely Caroline Tomlinson-Pemberton, formerly of Morant Bay, St Thomas, now residing in North Carolina in the United States, make it a very special day.

On Wednesday, March 16, the statuesquely lovely Maureen Webber; the lovely Andrea Waite; the lovely Kerrian Smith in Arlington, Texas; and Bacari Bascombe in Barbados will be breaking out the bubbly!

Then on Thursday the 17th, Olympian Ray Stewart will be partying at home in the US; and American real estate power-player, philanthropist and north-coast habitué Joe English, will be celebrating in the Dominican Republic.

And belated birthday wishes to the affable Patrick Pitter, who celebrated his special day on Tuesday. Many happy returns all around!