Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writer
( left ) Actress Kim Fields presents the Caribbean Tourism Organisation Award of Excellence to cricket icon Sir Vivian Richards at the 32nd Governments of the Caribbean State Ball.
( right ) Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg (left), chats with Prime Minister P.J. Patterson at Governments of the Caribbean State Ball.
WESTERN BUREAU:
FOR MORE than 30 years, the Governments of the Caribbean State Ball has remained the most anticipated event of the week's programme, and last Friday night was no different.
The excitement started when honoured Prime Minister P.J. Patterson made a grand entrance into the ballroom and the entire gathering stood at attention to admire the statesman who was a picture of sartorial elegance in a double-breasted grey suit with complimentary silver and black accents.
Prime Minister Patterson's spectacular entry was in sync with an impressive flag ceremony which saw 32 Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) member-countries' flags paraded by the Turks and Caicos Islands' Police Force.
Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, not only boasted of the gigantic plans in store for the 'Big Apple', but also quipped about the golf conversation he had with the Jamaican leader.
Seated next to Mayor Bloomberg was the effervescent CTO Chairman, Pamela C Richards, commissioner of tourism of the United States Virgin Islands.
The atmosphere in the room was further energised by the presence of a number of the Caribbean's chief ministers, statesmen and women, tourism stakeholders and industry partners, while hidden in the wings and ready to work out the waistlines was the indomitable Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.
This was an evening of true celebration, especially for the Jamaicans, as Prime Minister Patterson became the first recipient of CTO's Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service to Caribbean tourism. West Indian cricketer Sir Vivian Richards and newspaper publisher Karl B. Rodney of Carib News, New York, both received Awards of Excellence.
Professor Carlos Diago, of the University of the Sacred Heart, Puerto Rico, was also honoured, with the CTO's Lifetime Achievement Award.
