Celebrating the American Friends of Jamaica

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

In a world growing increasingly bereft of role models, there is a beacon of hope. While many are promoting the culture of instant gratification and getting rich at all costs irrespective of the impact of their actions on communities and Jamaica, there are individuals and social institutions, which are bulwarks, preventing the all-penetrative corrosive influence of this new reality!

One such organisation is the American Friends of Jamaica - a group largely made up of long-standing United States visitors to the island, former US ambassadors to Jamaica; and of course a number of Jamaicans in the diaspora and at home.

This organisation is one to be celebrated, as over the years its members and supporters have given and donated their time and financial resources in dedication to promoting and improving the welfare of Jamaica and Jamaicans. All in a bid to right many social wrongs, and remedy the ills suffered by many due to their lack of access - to education, health care or nutrition.

ANNUAL DONATIONS

Each year following their successful gala and fundraising efforts in New York and Miami, the members and supporters of this august group journey to Jamaica, to make donations to various charities.

In recognition of their charity, security conglomateur and the city's leading host, Kenny Benjamin, and his companion, the lovely Aloima Suarez, hosted the American Friends of Jamaica to what was truly a swelleganza and nothing but and how!

My dears, the evening began in the absolutely purr-fect gardens at his simply marvellously appointed and beautifully accommodating upper St Andrew residence. Cocktails and the likes were enjoyed to the music of the Peace Makers Mento band, which ramp up the ante with a suite of Jamaican traditional folk melodies that had guests not only jigging, but also singing along in appreciation.

Cocktails over, guests were invited to enjoy dinner - and this they did in absolutely fabulous style. Dinner was served in what has been dubbed Kenny Benjamin's entertainment cathedral! Dears, the fare consisted of Indian, Jamaican, and continental, which made for a fabulous feast served against what was pretty nigh white-gloved service and absolutely fab entertainment.

Following in the same vein of traditional Jamaican music, the celebrated Carl Bliss and friends - friends being the marvellously talented mezzo-soprano Dawn Fuller-Phillips; Beryl Johnson on keyboards; and the very talented Kevan Douglas on conga took the night's entertainment to another level. The quartet gave a simply awesome display of individual and collective talent, and the awesome versatility of traditional folk medleys, à la Vivaldi or Bach. You know we are talking a musical feast here of the most fabulous order.

And so it was my dears, a night to remember, made that much more memorable by the august company and the essence of the evening. But luvs, it only got better as there was an after party. A number of guests and the musicians got down and took it to a whole new level in a singalong that was indeed truly a fab fest. And suitably so as this was a celebration of the men and women who give of themselves and resources, and whose service and contribution more often than not go unheralded!

Talk about putting on the Ritz! Well this my dears, this was truly one of the season's finest outings, and nothing short of an award-winning soirée.

Among the notables out were Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill and wife the stunning Sheila Benjamin-McNeill; the Reverend Russell Akward Jr, husband of current United States Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater; former US ambassadors to Jamaica Glen Holden and wife Gloria, Sue Cobb and husband Charles and Brenda LaGrange Johnson. Sitting president of the AFJ; Sydney and Sonny Engel; the esteemed Michelle Rollins; James and Manuela Goren; Mark and Julie Jones and their son Liam; the charmingly lovely Monica Clarke Ladd; A-crowder Robert MacMillan and the fab Candy Creighton DePass. Also the indomitable Thalia Lyn, fresh from receiving the American Friends of Jamaica humanitarian award in Florida, the weekend before; socialite Jennifer Lim; Lester Spaulding; the fabulous Cindy Breakspeare-Bent; Phillip and Christine Gore; Drs Dhiru and Laura Tanna; the lovely Wendy Hart; businessman Dwight Moore; Valerie Juggan-Brown; Vinay Wallia; the truly elegant Sonja Sutherland-Dumetz; the fab looking R. Christene King; Yvonne Wilks; and the awesomely stunning Caron Chung, executive director of the AFJ.

But what a night!!

Talk about très élégant, well, that it was, and then some!