Raising the flag for a powerful PM

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

And so, mon congrats to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller on being adjudged, by the internationally renowned Time Magazine, as one of its 100 Most Influential Persons in the World today.

Kudos to the Jamaican electorate on first acknowledging this pheno-menal woman - her charm, grits and dedication - by electing her to the office of prime minister, the platform from which Time now recognises her sphere of influence and capacity as a headliner to positively influence and impact the lives of others.

And so, we too join in lauding Simpson Miller in this singular achievement, as her being so recognised only redounds to the country's benefit, in international exposure and recognition.

And speaking of Simpson Miller, her response to the 'flag' controversy is worthy of note. This here scribe finds it amusing that what was clearly a parochial matter, effected by those with an even more parochial grasp of symbols and institutions, has given fodder to the supposedly learned commentators, including the Opposition, who seek to elevate the parochial desecration of the symbol of the Jamaican flag to a national conspiracy by the People's National Party (PNP) and its leaders.

Can we have a real debate here and forgo the balderdash?

PNP nation

As for those calling for the resignation of persons just elected to govern, pay attention. With both the general and parish council elections now over, the people have given the PNP an overwhelming mandate to govern. The thing to be doing now is to ready your own political house to make it an attractive alternative by the time the next election cycle rolls around, not prolonging the post-election agony.

But moving right along!

Luvs, there is a new Mexican ambassador in town, and he is Gerardo Lozano, who arrived just a month ago and is busy settling in. He was spotted out at the fabulous soirée that the fabulous Rosa Joseph hosted at her upper St Andrew residence, in honour of his predecessor Ambassador Leonora Rueda, last Thursday, who was visiting from New Zealand.

Dears, that was a fab outing, but see more anon in this Sunday's Outlook Magazine.

And mon congrats to Clyde Thompson of Jamaica Customs and wife, the lovely Betty Barrett Thompson of the National Commercial Bank, who will celebrate their wedding anniversary on Tuesday the 24th.

And dears, speaking of beautiful people, places and things: the Palmyra Foundation is all set to kick off its 2012 fund-raising campaign to assist the needy children of Montego Bay and its environs with its much-anticipated online charity auction, culminating with its May 4 fund-raising party, at Marguerite's Almond Terrace/ Blue Beat and Jazz Club, in fabulous Montego Bay.

Luvs, the online auction which got underway, yesterday, Thursday the 19th, will see donors being able to bid on luxury vacation packages in destinations such as Hawaii, Bali, Miami, Colorado, Italy, Malta, Spain, Germany, Dubai, Thailand and many other hot spots, in the virtual auction. Naturally, the auction includes some of Jamaica's finest properties, such as the very exclusive GoldenEye, Iberostar Grand hotel, Secrets Resorts, Grand Palladium hotel, Ritz-Carlton, and Half Moon, a Rock Resort. In addition, there are other goodies such as round-trip airline tickets donated by Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways; concert tickets and a meet and greet with the world's most revered flautist Sir James Galway in Washington, DC; a cricket bat signed by Freddie Flintoff; plus a whole lot more.

And dears, with this year's theme for the charity being 'The future is bright, when you can read and write', y'all know we are talking a very eminently worthy cause here, so start popping the champagne!

Birthday greetings

Happy birthday wishes to songbird Charmaine Lemonius; the fab Rachel McLarty; Colleen Cowan-Miller; Davian Seanjohn Barnes; Denzie Sinclair; and Neville George, who celebrate today!

Saturday the 21st will see the charming Millicent Peart; Kamali Carlyle Ho-Shing; Claudette Joiles-Flowers; the lovely Bridget Bailey over in Spaldings, Clarendon; and the elegant Desiree Dawkins-Chue, formerly of Rosemount near Linstead in St Catherine, now resident of Delray Beach, Florida.

On Saturday the 22nd, the tres elegant Gloria Moodie; media personality Rohan Powell; Gary Rowe; Juliet Hendricks, in Devon, Manchester; the lovely Heather Bradley, now a New York resident, will be celebrating.

On Sunday the 23rd, former judge and attorney Nerine Small; antique dealer Wayne Nasralla; the lovely Tashekia White; and Duwayne Lee will be among the fab partying. The fabulous Denise Lyn, now residing in Florida, still celebrating her children's double gold medal wins at the Carifta Games in The Bahamas, will be celebrating her birthday with a motherly zing.

Also celebrating on Sunday will be Andrea Holmes-Seymour, formerly of Ocho Rios, now resident of Silver Spring, Maryland; and Zarine Nandan, wife of the former head of the Seabed Authority, Ambassador Satya Nandan.

Come Tuesday the 24th, birthday celebrants will include: The fabulous Dianne Francis of The Gleaner Company; entrepreneur Ribbie Chung; the charming Carol Campbell; the affable Leo Williams; the simply lovely Nicole Shirley; the charmingly lovely Anne Stewart; Karen Grant of the JUTC; Winston Jones, in Ocho Rios, St Ann; Shelly-Ann Dixon, in Runaway Bay; Dr Vonnie McGowan, in Florida; Nodia Chambers, now in Queens, New York; and the fabulous beauty Susie Crosbie-Bridges, now resident of Los Angeles, California.

On Wednesday the 25th, those celebrating their birthdays will include former parliamentarian Phyllis Mitchell; socialite Beverley Junor Levy; Pauline Channer, of Spur Tree, Manchester; the lovely Careen Small; the beautiful Lili Stephens Henry, in New York; Winston Passley, formerly of Stony Hill, St Andrew, now resident of New York; and the charming Madhai Hernandez, former Venezuelan Embassy official, now back home in Caracas, Venezuela.

On Thursday the 26th, mayor of Kingston, Senator Angela Brown Burke; the lovely Melissa Mowatt; the fab Jennifer Cape; Jamaica-born British author Caroline Bell-Foster; Sandra McKellop, in London, England; the fab Kate Carter, also in London, England; Damion Stewart, known and celebrated internationally as the fabulous 'Spike', formerly of Hedonism III, now in Western Australia, will make it a day when Jamaicans here and across the globe celebrate a very special day!

And next Friday the 27th will see former Sports Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange; fashion designer Lubica Slovak; Lascelles Thompson; Kemesha Empty; Gershom Bailey; Savion Pinnock; Marlon Lewis in Montego Bay; Glenda Andrew in the UK, make it a special day of celebrations.

And very special belated birthday wishes to the revered Tunty Barrett, who celebrated his 85th birthday on Saturday, April the 14th.

Best wishes all around with champagne toasts and beluga treats!