Las Chin celebrates in style

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

For many, the fear of ageing is more about the fear of being caught out with little or nothing to show for a long life spent parading but with no tangible accomplishment(s) on which to bask upon reflection of their life's journey.

Now, while this is true of the majority, this can never be said of the industrious and iconic Lascelles Chin, the founding chairman of the celebrated Lasco Group of Companies. And so, when the invitations went out recently advising family, friends and clients that indeed, 'The Chairman', as he is affectionately styled by his staffers, or 'Mr Chin', as he is styled by many clients, or simply 'Las', would be indeed celebrating his 75th birthday, the chronological number was irreconcilable with the energetic man they love, honour and trust.

Indeed, Las Chin, known and celebrated for his 'vim, vigour and vitality', has been the poster child for the new generation of men, who live a full life, way beyond the accepted norm.

Dears, make no mistake about it, the enterprising Las Chin has been a trail-blazing businessman, long before it was considered fashionable to be bullish on Jamaica, its economy and its people.

Indeed, many of his peers who opted to 'flee for greener pastures in the bad old days' now rue the day when they now retrospectively assess their days in self-imposed exile, their fortunes amassed here being depleted, while their imagined fear and/or prophesy of a failed Jamaican state, is yet to emerge.

It is against this backdrop, that Las Chin, has emerged as one of the island's leading and most successful regional businessman. His Lasco brand now taking on international recognition along the way. He has done what precious few other business leaders have ever managed to accomplish, and that is bonding with his clients and consumers of his goods and services.

Dears, in an age when the emphasis is on maximising the profit margin, Las Chin, through his innovative approach, has incorporated the delivery of goods and services to the population on a whole, while recognising and giving back to the population, acknowledging, celebrating and lauding those who serve as well as those who are unrecognised. These include our teachers, nurses and policemen and women.

And so, it was my dears, that for his 75th birthday party, the celebratory do was hosted at what is now easily one of Kingston's emerging preferred locations - The Hope Zoo. It was easily one of the most anticipated social events of the season, as indeed, not only were the world and his wife queuing for this stellar occasion, so too were many others and it made for one fabulous smasheroni and then some!

Dears, talk about living la vida loca!

Well, it was that kind of a party, and then some, as indeed nothing else or less was expected for such a milestone of a celebration and fabulously so!

Luvs, we are talking a red-carpet do here, and then some, as the lawns of the Hope Zoo was transformed into a theatre of celebration made so by a red-carpet walkway, covered by white canopy that led to a giant white marquee, decorated by pink ribbons and streamers, that served as a reception/lounge area, that led to yet another giant white marquee, complete with elevated dance floor, ottomans and bistro tables and coffee-seating, that made for a beautiful dancing arena; with both signature marquees, now ringed by white kiosks, housing the stations for libations and fare.

Dears, we are talking one giant bar here and a bevy of wait-staffers, and at least 12 serving stations, offering Chinese, Continental, Jamaican, seafood, salads, and desserts - so strategically placed and done-up, the near 500 guests in attendance were never bothered by the inconvenience of a queue for libations and or fare at any of the various stations, as indeed, to forestall this eventuality, the kiosks were done up in duplicates on either side of the grand marquees!

Dears, di we say style perfect!

Dears, we did, but only emphasising as indeed this was uber style of the flawless order, haute-society in tow, so you know we are talking bellissima grande here and nothing but!

And so it was - one very grand affair, punctuated by simply fabulous food, the beautiful people and some rip-roaring dancing as indeed with Sparkles Disco taking musical honours, partying and dancing were aplenty, but when two fabulously clad belly dancers took to the dance floor and began doing their thing, honeys, the temperature of the party just rose perceptibly higher, and got even higher when the birthday boy was entreated to join the dancers onstage, and did so to wild cheers and shouts of encouragement.

Now, not that Las Chin needed any such encouragement, as he was clearly in a mood to celebrate, and celebrate he did, as he joined the belly-dancing duo of Angel Watson and
Tasoy Lewis and partied like a rock star!

Oh, what a
night! In a word - beautiful!

No
drab speeches or drama here, as it was simply not that kind of a party,
as this was truly a night to celebrate the milestone birthday of one of
this country's favourite sons and luvs, it was all peaches and
crème!

Dears, Prime Minister The Most Hon Portia
Simpson Miller, was in attendance, as were: wife of the birthday boy,
the fab Dr Eileen Chin, and their sons David and Richard Chin; Finance
Minister Dr Peter Phillips and wife, the charmingly lovely Mrs Sandra
Minott-Phillips, QC; State Minister MP Richard Azan; MP Mike Henry and
his stunning wife Mrs Dawn Chambers-Henry; MP Delroy Chuck; Senator
Christopher Tufton and his fabulous wife, Mrs Neadene Tufton; DPP Paula
Llewellyn; PA to the PM, Dr Debbie Hickling; the esteemed Christopher
Bovell and his wife Premier Socialite Michelle Bovell; the eminent
Douglas Vaz; Sameer Younis and his wife, the fab Mrs Leila Younis;
Security Conglomateur Kenny Benjamin; Baking Mogul Butch Hendrickson and
the fabulous Heidi ; Douglas and Michelle Orane; Peter and Jennifer
Moses; Capt Michael Lyn and wife Mrs Thalia Lyn; J. Lester Spaulding and
wife Dr L.W. Koengeter; Charley Johnston and wife, the lovely Mrs Lisa
McGregor-Johnston; Prakash and Mrs Anita Vaswani; Mr and Mrs Lester
Woolery; Dr Dhiru and Dr Laura Tanna; Dr and Mrs Akshai Mansing; Mr and
Mrs Compton Rodney; Anthony Chang; Mrs Valerie Juggan-Brown; Arnold and
Trisha Foote; the celebrated Milton and Elizabeth Samuda; Stanley
Dunwell and wife Dr Pat Dunwell; Dr Robert Thomas; Capt David McRae and
the elegant Annette McDonnough; Aubyn and Tamara Hill; Freddie Dumetz
and wife Sonja Sutherland-Dumetz; Bobby Smith; Dr Robert Chen and
companion the lovely Erica Murray; the lovely Nancy McLean; Robert
Stephenson; Douglas Cupidon; Deryck Rose; the elegant Sharon
Anamanthodu.

Also out were Mr and Mrs Neil Chin and
daughter Marie Chin; the beautiful Ms Lisa Chin; Wayne Chin; Mr and Mrs
Joel Gonzalez and Liudmilla Gonzalez; Dr Trevor Yee; Ms Annette Chin;
Peter Chen; Mrs Jacinth Hall Tracey; Mrs Wincella Cummings; Mrs Hortense
Edwards; the charming Constance Holdsworth; Kadogo Thompson; Henry
Whittaker; Mrs Joy Mitchel Grant; Sir Kenneth Hall and Rheima Hall, plus
a number of others.