Not surprised by Golding's actions

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

My dears, the political climate just went into overdrive with the announcement by the Jamaica Labour Party leader and prime minister, Bruce Golding, that he would not be seeking re-election come November.

The announcements beg the question, why now and was he being forced by external forces arising from the Dudus-Manatt affair? The general consensus is that the prime minister had weathered the political storm as a result of his too-close association with the now self-confessed international criminal mastermind. Now Golding's announcement is one matter and the reasons altogether, yet another. But what is still befuddling this scribe is the report in the media by many would-be opinion leaders as well as private-sector leaders of their shock at his decision to not seek re-election.

What makes their claim of shock so incredulous is that a few months ago, most well-thinking Jamaicans were demanding Golding's resignation. Now that it is on the table, however belated, they are now expressing 'shock'. My dears, y'all ever see my trial? For the record, Golding's resignation is a welcome development in the wake of the Manatt-Dudus scandal, and augurs well for not only the prospects of the JLP, but the future of good governance and accountability in Jamaica.

Now those rushing to ascribe altruistic or patriotic rationalisation to Golding's belated actions are doing so in contravention of the facts, as, to date, Golding's body of work points to no such history, but points to a man whose actions are born of expediency and reactionary circumstances above and beyond his control. With a history like that, it is quite difficult now to see this political leopard changing his spots. Anyway my dears, while the JLP fiddles, our beloved country continues to stagnate. So let's hope they approach the business of selecting their new leader and prime minister with dispatch, so the country can press on.

Librans celebrate

Then my darlings, Librans everywhere are celebrating and they are doing so with wild abandon and little wonder, as, in hard times, the chic celebrate their good fortunes and so parties there are aplenty and birthdays too. Among those celebrating the sign of Libra are: former government senator, Dr Ronald Robinson; media personality, the fab Paula-Ann Porter Jones; urbanwear fashion designer Earl 'Biggy' Turner; the fab Kerry Spencer; the beautiful Annmarie Soares; the stunning Janet Stansbury, now in West Palm Beach, Florida; and the lovely Janet Wright, in the United Kingdom; who all celebrate their birthday today!

Celebrating tomorrow will be: the charmingly fab upper St Andrew socialite Yola Headcock; businessman Dave Simpson; the lovely Tracy-Ann Brooks; the fab Shurline Perry, formerly of Hedonisn III, now at Breezes Runaway Bay; André Cooper, now in New York; Leroy Brown, formerly of Banbury, near Linstead in St Catherine and now in Toronto, Canada; and the lovely Sherrel Robertson, now in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

On Sunday, Jamaican international LA-based artist Bernard Hoyes; former National Dance Theatre Company lead dancer Christopher Morrison, now in Rochester, New York; and the charming Michelle Scott, will celebrate their very special day!

Come Monday, Montego Bay premier socialite Sheila Hart; entrepreneur and People's National Party power broker Steve Ashley; the multitalented and multifaceted artist/performer Tommy Ricketts; the lovely Judy Cohen, now in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; the lovely Sandra Waddell, now in Beltsville, Maryland; Wayne D. Russell, formerly of Kingston, now in New York; the lovely Nicole Giff, now in Philadelphia; Milton Russell, formerly of Montego Bay, also in Philadelphia; and the charming Debbie Hoffren, in Texas; will all celebrate in different time zones across the globe.

On Tuesday, Jamaica's king of comedy, Oliver Samuels; entrepreneur Michael Fox; chef Denise Bradshaw; Pulse model the fab Zemel Bennett; and the lovely Lolita Thomas, now in New York; will all share the same birthday.

On Wednesday, the fabulous Angeline Hussey-Harris; the lovely Andrea South; actor and entertainer Andrew 'Brawta' Clarke, now in New York; and the charming Rose Wehrli, wife of former US Embassy Consul General Ed Wehrli, will be the notables celebrating their special day.

Come next Thursday, however, the birthday celebrants will be: the fab Nagina Newman; entrepreneur and actor Justin Hadeed-Awn; the lovely Martina Robinson; Aul Whyte, now in Brooklyn, New York; and the talented Lawrence Graham-Brown, now in Rumson, New Jersey. And belated birthday wishes to the fab Yolan Zanders, who celebrated her special day on Monday. Many happy returns y'all.

And speaking of fabulous people places and things, if y'all have not yet visited the absolutely fabulous Majestic Japanese Restaurant on Old Stony Hill Road, in the gardens of the oh-so-quaint Villa Ronai, then huns, y'all are missing out on a simply dee-vine culinary and esoteric experience! After attending for its first-night soft opening some Fridays ago, this scribe has since returned no less than four times and dears, what a culinary reprise each visit has proven. Luvs, we are talking easily the capital's culinary epicentre and nothing but, with those with discerning taste and a sense of style flocking to the fab restaurant to share in the experience.

And then my dears, this weekend it's all about Hedonism II in fabulous Negril as the fab and racy resort plays host to the annual staging of the Miss America Black Nude Pageant, and pumpkins y'all know that we are talking nothing but good clean fun here! And for those not heading out of town tonight, the place to be is definitely the ultra-mod and happening Studio 38 at the Pulse Complex on Trafalgar Road, where the musical talent and genius of songbird Etana will be on offer, as she is tonight's featured star performer.

Dears, Etana is a treat wherever she graces the musical stage, and tonight the talented singer should be at her best and then some.