By Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor 
Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica Zhao Zhenyu (second right) and wife Wang Xiaoju (right) chat with Celia and Ian Levy. Ambassador Zhenyu hosted a reception to celebrate the Chinese new year the year of the rooster at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, St. Andrew, on Wednesday February 9. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
MY DEARS, on Tuesday night of last week, Chinese the world over gathered together in one accord, to ring in the Chinese new year the year of the rooster! And so, partying there were aplenty and all over. But luvs, the week before,Kingston was awash in Chinese fever and then some, as indeed, Chinese vice-president Zeng Qinhong, paid an official visit to the island as head of the visiting Chinese delegation to the region and, my dears, it proved the mother of all state visits!
Dears, we are talking one
fabulous outing here from the very get-go, as from the sheer numbers involved in the delegation, it was clear that the Chinese government and people are no longer prepared to ignore the region, but are quite prepared to get right in there and mix it up!
And really very little or no
surprises here at all, that the Chinese should come a-calling and at such an official level, because, the Chinese community here is one of the more industrious ethnic groupings, with a history of not just industry but philanthropy. They have been fully integrated into the Jamaican tapestry without losing their ethnic and cultural identity in the process and giving credence to our motto 'Out of Many, One People'.
MORE THAN TIMELY
Well dearhearts, the official
delegation could not have been more opportune, coming as it did at a time when the Jamaican
economy is looking for new
partners and or the buttressing of old ones with a view to creating new and or wider market options. And with the Chinese too looking for new market options, as well as spreading their political influence, this was more than just a timely visit.
Sweet things, it is the Chinese who wish on their enemies that they should live in interesting times. Their high-profile visit here last week, is just the start of
interesting political and industrial times not just for the region, but also for the international
community at large as indeed, the Chinese economy represents the fastest-growing international
market, a fact not lost on
competing economies, who are now queuing to bite into the Chinese pie.
Jamaica too is showing signs of its intent to compete and or at least join in the big league, and while its still to fine-tune its position as to whether it will be going it alone, or seeking to unite the region under a CARICOM banner, she too is
signalling its intent to become more than just a bit player in the changing face of the emerging international order.
Well my dears, amid the swirl and twirl that was the order that attended the official visit by Chinese delegation, that saw them guesting at several State affairs dinners, luncheons, receptions etc. was the absolute gem of a beauty of a gala reception Prime Minister P.J. Patterson hosted at the first
residence, last Tuesday.
FANTASTIC DO
Jamaica House has never looked more fabulous and then some, as it did two Wednesday nights ago all done up in celebratory style. Oh, sweet cornmeal pone, what a do!
Dovecakes, aam-a-telling-y'all, this was an outing that was as
fabulous as fabulous comes! A
tenner, and then some on the social Richter Scale, and my word how!! We are talking regal style here and a flaw-free extravaganza that took the breath away by its sheer
magnitude élan and pizzazz as
the social, political, financial, industrial and creative elite were out in force to celebrate and the cement new ties.
Dears, it was something fierce! And luvs, the business community and the hospitality industry were at their finest and very best. Pumpkins, if any of y'all missed this one, then slap yuh-selves as this was not only the very acme of style and cultural celebration. It was a P.J. Patterson masterpiece.
Luvs, from the Rod Dennis Mento Band that greeted arriving guests in their inimitable style and fashion; to the Dancing Chinese Dragon; L' ACADCO Dance Ensemble; to the very many and oh so colourfully inviting marquees housing some of the finest Chinese and Jamaican dishes and spirits, it was one faultlessly fine do.
Those out included: Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Baldwin Spencer; Former First Lady, Beverly Anderson-Manley; Foreign Minister, K.D. Knight; Development Minister, Dr. Paul Robertson; Health Minister, John Junor and wife Urla; Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke; Tourism Minister, Aloun Assamba; Attorney-General, A.J. Nicholson; Cabinet Secretary, Carlton Davis; Central Kingston M.P., Victor Cummings; J.D.F. Chief-of-Staff, Hardley Lewin; Chinese Ambassador, Zhenyu Zhao and wife Madam Wang Xiaoju; Ambassador Douglas Saunders; Chairman of the Port Authority, Noel Hylton; Godfrey Dyer; siblings Maurice and Mabel Tenn; Vincent and Gloria Chen; Robert MacMillan; Las Chin and wife Dr. Eileen Gonzalez-Chin; Carl Chang; Capt. Michael Lyn and wife Thalia Lyn; Neville Blythe; Yvon and Cynthia Desulme; Kevin and Jackie Hendrickson; Charles Matthews; Chris Nakash and wife Zein Issa-Nakash, and her twin sister the lovely Muna Issa; Stephen Facey; Mrs. Ruby Martin; Ambassador Peter King; Mrs. Gloria Moodie; William and Andrea Chin-See; Mrs. Janet Panton; Dr. Marion Bullock-DuCasse; Peter Fraser; Mrs. Marva Brodie; Dr. Herb and Rita Elliott; David Hall; Aubyn Hill; Jimmy Moss-Solomon; Mrs. Betty Ashley; Frank Roshouvel; Tony and Yvonne Rae; William Tavares-Finson; Mr. and Mrs. Milton Samuda; Stephen Lyn Kee Chow; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stephens; Donovan Perkins; Mrs. Audrey Marks-Dunstan; Aaron X. Hou; Mrs. Jeanette Hutchinson; Colin Steele; Marilyn Bennett; Christopher Read; Mr. and Mrs. Michael Muirhead; Errol Greene; siblings I-Nancy and Virginia Burke; David Shields; Fay Hutchinson; David Johnson; Mrs. Joyce Young; Robert Stephenson; and the lovely Deborah Hamilton-Crooks and Dawn Young, who both helped in making it happen.
