(From left) Something has Curtis Yeates, his wife Andrea, Mary Chambers and Winsome French laughing. The group was in Montego Bay for a Commonwealth Lawyers' Association dinner.

As diverse as the Commonwealth is and with its many sociopolitical and economic differences, the region's citizens can still effortlessly blend together and enjoy an evening of fun.

Such was the case last week Friday evening when a small group, comprising Commonwealth nationals, enjoyed a fabulous evening at the residence of Mary Chambers in Unity Hall, Montego Bay, for a dinner hosted by businessman Fred Smith.

Visitors came to Jamaica to attend the 25th anniversary conference of the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association, which was hosted by the Ritz-Carlton from October 16 to 25.

Meet the people

The dinner was a 'meet-the-people' experience, but judging from how well everyone got along, over mannish water, spicy curried goat and oxtail, one could easily believe they were all Jamaican nationals.

The dinner party continued until late in the night, as patrons feasted on rum cake while regaling others with tales of duppies as the occasional outburst of laughter filled the cool night air.

Guests out included: Fred Smith, CEO of the Cornwall Regional Hospital, Everton Anderson, Judge Glen Brown, attorney Wayne Silvera, Romeo Isokariari of the Nigerian Ministry of Justice, Deon Rudman of the South African Department of Justice, Tropical Tours' Kirk Taylor and his wife, Shauna; Scotiabank's Ainsworth Leach and his wife, Keisha, among others.

Deon Rudman of South Africa's justice department has a chat with Romeo Isokariari of the Nigerian justice ministry at a dinner hosted by Fred Smith.

Bahamian magistrate Gwendolyn Claude (left) and attorney Constance McDonald were ready for Heritage Week. - photos by Denise Reid