And the world goes on

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

My daahlings, there's never a dull moment here on this fabulous rock and how, as honeys, the nation's capital - the 'Ackee-Pod' - was buzzing and then some all of last weekend and straight into this weekend as the talk is all about cancelled visas; coming cancellations; and WikiLeaks!

And then there's this curious rush by some commentators now calling on Sharon Hay-Webster to resign as MP (and so she should), but who were strangely silent on all the others that preceded hers.

It does make for a curious and selective case of morality, pretty much like the prime minister, now lecturing others on the importance of being morally upstanding.

My dears, as rural folks would say: "Jackass say the worl nuh level."

And then there was that curious rush by the PNP to announce its new shadow Cabinet, right in the midst of the visa-cancellation imbroglio.

Luvs, it's a long accepted principle by those in the know, that when a man is intent on committing suicide, there's absolutely no need to murder him. With this principle in mind, it's rather difficult to understand the PNP's rush to change the national dialogue from the visa woes of the JLP minister to their new shadow Cabinet. Smart money would have been to allow the JLP and its woes to play itself out then, after the public had feasted on the visa cancellation and its implications, step in announce their shadow Cabinet and claim the public relations high ground.

Alas, the party saw it differently, and surrendered a fine opportunity for the JLP to be left stewing in the post-cancellation public debate and ramifications, by its inopportune announcement.

fab stops

Anyway my dears, visa woes and the misfortunes of the JLP were not the only parties in town for the Labour Day weekend holiday, as from Kingston to Negril and all the fab stops in-between, parties there were aplenty, some somewhat muted due to the much heralded end-of-time pronouncements and expected rapture.

Dears, while 'Desiderata' exhorts us to give the "dull and ignorant" a listening ear, as they too have their story, no responsible media practitioner should have foisted such monumentally arrant nonsense on the nation.

Anyway my dears, for those of us who missed it, the place to be was Jacks Hills, where the society was of the fabulous order; the preferred libations was champagne, and we are talking about Dom Perignon and Crystal; and luvs, how!

Dears, suffice it to say that the mantra here was: since we must die, then why not in fine style.

And it's not all bad news either across Jamaica or the diaspora, as the fabulous Lili Stevens-Henry, the very beautiful and enterprising granddaughter of Minister Mike Henry, is making the news in New York and all for the right reasons, with both the New York Post and ABC TV covering her back-pack back to school charity, geared towards helping the less fortunate returning to school, with the requisite tools of learning.

Way to go, and then some!

And speaking of fabulous causes, forget all other pretenders, the place to be tomorrow is definitely Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, at Paradise Park, for the annual Crabfest bonanza, hosted by philanthropist Busha Clarke at his beachfront estate to raise funds for Westmoreland charities.

Dears, not only is this one stellar outing and august fund-raiser, the event is now one of the most recognised social activities on the national calendar, attracting guests from all across the island and the globe.

Birthdays

Then my dears, speaking of fabulous people, places, anniversaries, celebrations and things. Celebrating today are: artist Karl Jerry Craig; the lovely Janice Lugg-Kalinuk, in Runaway Bay; founder and curator of the reggae and Ethiopian archives, Jim Marshall, in California.

Happy birthday wishes to former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, who celebrates his birthday tomorrow. Also celebrating tomorrow are: Opposition Spokesman on Transport Dr Omar Davies; cricketer Jeffery Dujon; media personality/actress Fae Ellington; TV poducer/publicist Angela Thame; the lovely Anna Chin, of Jo-Jo's fame; the lovely Carleen Reid; the charming Del Robinson; entrepreneur Lorna Davis, of Ocho Rios; the fab Camilla Wright, also of Ocho Rios; and the lovely Yvonne Bailey-Brown, formerly of Port Morant, St Thomas, now resident of New Jersey.

On Sunday the 29th, among those celebrate are: Douglas Reid of Grovesnor Galleries; Gleaner Lifestyle Editor Barbara Ellington, the lovely Ann-Marie Brooks; the fab Denyse Palmer; and Angel Henry, in New Orleans.

On Monday the 30th: New York socialite and Round Hill resident Leslie Klotz; Javette Nixon; Michael Weatherly; the lovely Debbie Jackson of Christiana, Manchester, now in Brooklyn, New York.

The 31st will see: celebrated artist Laura Facey; author/columnist Beverly East; the fab Sandra Samuels-Reid; and the charming Thalia Chung celebrating their birthday.

The charming Elizabeth Chin-See celebrates on Wednesday, June 1, as will model Casmar James, Tina-Simone Mowatt; and the fab Tracy-Ann Brown, in New York.

On Thursday the 2nd, flautist Rosina Moder; Thelma Porter; award-winning bartender Serena Williams of Hedonism II, and the lovely Marie Sparkes, in Mandeville, will make it a fab week of birthday celebrations.

Belated birthday greetings to this newspaper's celebrated photographer, Winston Sill, and engaging writer/columnist Daviot Kelly, who celebrated their special days last week.

Happy returns to y'all with champagne toasts and beluga treats!