Student André Thompson reaches out to test the
texture of the 'Ashuna Warrior Princess', sculpture
executed by Gene Pearson. It was part of a exhibition of photographs and art at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel to mark the hotel's 29th anniversary celebration. -Dennis Coke photoGeorgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter
ARTISTS AND aficionado, diplomats and businessmen, partners and board members, as well as members of the touring Indian cricket team, joined executives and employees at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday in reliving memories of 29 years of operation in Jamaica.
A photographic and art exhibition, titled '29 Years of Excellence', was officially opened in the hotel's foyer, showcasing visits of celebrities and dignitaries over the years, entertainment, food festivals and special events at Jamaica Pegasus, as well as cricket teams hosted on varying tours, children at play, and employees in winning poses.
Guests viewed the pictures, leafed through the scrapbook, reminisced quietly and exchanged thoughts about the paintings, sculptures and ceramics on display.
The art, which was supplied by Pegasus Gallery, included works by Barrington Watson, Clinton Hutton, Dorothy Henriques-Wells, Seya Parboosingh, Susan Alexander, George Rodney, Richard Atkinson, Vivienne Logan, Erwin de Vries, P.J. Stewart, Stanford Watson, Mazola, and ceramist/sculptors Gene Pearson, Jean Taylor-Bushay, Margaret McGhie, Roger Pringle, Philip Supersad, Dennis Hall, Marjorie Keith, and Norma Harrack.
General manager Eldon Bremner welcomed the guests. "Many of you are here two or three times per week for meetings, meals or drinks, and some of you have been in-house guests for years, months or weeks."
"This loyalty has not gone unnoticed," he assured the gathering, and, in the 29 years, "we've had to build and strengthen relationships. Clients have stuck by us, giving us their business and offering constructive criticism and praise."
He assured his guests that "this exhibition is as much our celebration as it is yours, for whatever successes the Jamaica Pegasus has enjoyed, are due in large measure to the support we have received from you."
The compliments and 'thank you' theme was sustained by guest speaker Francis 'Tony' Haynes, general manager of Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCL), a subsidiary of the Trinidad and Tobago-based TCL.
To quiet laughter, Mr. Haynes proudly declared that "Caribbean Cement built the city of Kingston... and we built the Pegasus too! A magnificent 17-story structure that has become a landmark in the New Kingston landscape."
Caribbean Cement is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and in pointing this out, Mr. Haynes said "Notwithstanding our 21-year headstart, we continue to have a productive relationship with the Pegasus."
The CCL executive praised the service at the facility: "It is certainly good enough to meet the high demands and standards of royalty, and has offered the same care to our business associates who reside here regularly."
Turning to the exhibition, Mr. Haynes said the hotel's history as presented in the exhibits will "enlighten and entertain, and will reveal to us how and why, and where and what the Jamaica Pegasus is today. If only these walls could talk, we would have the audio to go along with the visual. But, maybe, this might be too much knowledge for us to handle."
His wishes for continued success in the years ahead were accepted by Elena Girvan, executive assistant manager a 29-year veteran in the hospitality industry.
A special presentation was made to three companies who have been associates (and remain as clients) with the Jamaica Pegasus since the inception. These are the University of the West Indies (accepted by Jean Smith), Port Authority of Jamaica (Rosalie Donaldson) and Caribbean Cement Comany (Francis Haynes).
Among the many guests in attendance were the Chilean Ambassador, Fernando Pardo; Camille Needham of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and her deputy, Thelma Williams; Chris Dehring of DBG and cricket fame; Sourav Ganguly, captain of the Indian cricket team, and other cricketers; photographer Ken Ramsay; Lee's Fifth Avenue's Alex Brooks, and Press Association of Jamaica president, Glen McFarlane, alongside Vivienne Hall and Nancy McLean from the hotel.
'29 years of Excellence' will continue until Monday, May 27.
