WESTERN BUREAU:

Choosing to commence '2000 & Great' (2008) in western Jamaica, Prime Minister Bruce Golding and his wife Lorna led a host of celebrities heralding the New Year on Monday night at Tryall Club's 50th anniversary ball.

Ten minutes away, the dapper Josef Fortsmayr, Ralph and Ricky Lauren and a sizeable group of the rich and famous partied 2007 away at the chic and elegant Round Hill Hotel and Villas.

Midnight spectacle

Two high-end resorts, presenting a midnight spectacle and a double whammy of fireworks were enough to awaken the usually quiet rural town, Hopewell, where the people converged on the square at 11:30 p.m. for the annual treat.

As is customary, both resorts attracted celebrated English actor, Ewan McGregor; the McCain family... of McCain Frozen Foods Empire in Canada; and United States Ambassador, Brenda LaGrange Johnson and husband Howard, who obviously loves the west!

Oscar winner Lee Daniels; Donavon Bailey; Jackie Sangster and Doug Brooks; Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett and wife Carmen; director of tourism, Basil Smith and Dollis Campbell; Steven Golding and Empress Mullings and Judy Farmer and Courtney Hamilton were among the revelers who rang in the New Year in style.