Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter
Employees of Tank-Weld Metals, in Montego Bay. These six lovely lasses strike a pose during cocktails. They are (from left) Yvonne Summerville, administrative assistant; Amary Purkiss, Audia Samuels, Maggaritta Sutherland, Thadene Osbourne, and Sonia Samuels.
WESTERN BUREAU:
There was not an inch to spare in the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club's Rose Hall Room, last Saturday where some 400 corporate citizens gathered for yet another instalment of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry's annual dinner and awards banquet.
Dubbed a "black and white affair" the evening saw bow ties, tuxedos, sequinned tops and bejewelled shoes mixed in the more sedate black and the odd red as guests, some of whom travelled from as far as Kingston, networked and re-acquainted with friend over cocktails.
Although cocktail hour was a little longer than usual, it was hardly realised by many who were busy taking photos, and chatting up the new guy in town keeping the hallways abuzz with laughter and polite conversation.
Soon it was time for the festivities and guests were ushered into an immaculately-decorated ballroom accented by a black and white motif with a splash of colour from floral arrangements placed on each table.
President Pauline Reid brought the welcome, followed by a message from Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, Phillip Paulwell. This was expertly handled by master of ceremonies, Nathan Robb, whose bawdy jokes meant that there was never a dull moment.
The preliminaries complete, it was time for dinner, which was served to the cool tunes of saxophonist, Garfield Lawrence, the Herbert Morrison Technical High School Band and veteran singer, A.J. Brown.
After being titillated by the evening's fare, it was time for the main event - the well-awaited award ceremony and the words of guest speaker, Director of Tourism, Basil Smith, who made his maiden speech at the event.
Celebrating its 74th anniversary, the Montego Bay Chamber has been recognising outstanding community leaders for more than 50 years through its annual dinner and awards banquet. Part proceeds from the $5,000 ticket event is in aid of charity.
The 2006 awardees are: The St. James Parish Church - Community Service Award; Indies Pharma - Best New Business; MBJ Airports - Tourism Award; Rainforest Foods - Most Outstanding Business; Cars To Go - Adopt-An- Area; Stephen Dear - President's Award; Mark Kerr-Jarrett - Outgoing President's Trophy.
Definition of sartorial elegance: Director of Tourism, Basil Smith, in discussion with President of the In-bond Merchants Association, Kumar Samtani. - hotos by Claudine Housen/Staff Photographer
They say behind every successful man stands a good woman. Behold (from left) Sara Silva, wife of the Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica Jesús Silva, Neadene Tufton, wife of Senator Christopher Tufton, and Nadja Davis, wife of Cable and Wireless President Rodney Davis. Regally dressed, the ladies were spotted at the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce annual do
Oh, Mr. President, where is your tie? Cable and Wireless Chief Executive Officer, Rodney Davis shows Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica Jesus Silva a photo he took on his point and shoot camera during the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce annual dinner awards banquet. - Photos by Claudine Housen/Staff Photographer