Contributed photos
LEFT: Raquel Martinez (daughter of Judy Schoenbein), Trisha Todd, Chris Tribley, Sarah Todd and Donna Hussey enjoying the party. RIGHT: (From left) Jean Watson and Paul Issa chatting with Robin and Rafael Decomas.

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

My dears, three decades of a pioneering good thing is worth celebrating. Especially when that good thing has been the pilot of the new international trend for the vacationing public.

Such is the gift of the all-inclusive tourism concept that the late Abe Issa bequeathed not just his heirs, but his countrymen, when he first embarked on this journey. When he first opened the doors of his flagship Couples at Tower Isle, many advised that the location was its own death knell.

Well, definitely, the path to success includes knowing when to ignore detractors and their studious attempt at asserting their pompous claim to superior knowledge.

Sadly, if Abe Issa was not a man of conviction and stick-to-it-tiveness, then the reality of Couples and Jamaica as a premiere vacation spot could have easily kissed the tourism product goodbye!

Anyway, the late Abe Issa stuck to his guns, and today the tourism product is the better for it. His heirs, too, who despite venturing out into the business of commerce, fashion and the fast-food industry, have all returned to the family business. And so it is that what was the inspiration of one man has evolved into a truly national treasure with epic contribution.

30th anniversary<p>My daahlings, January 19 was the 30th anniversary of Couples Ocho Rios, as well as the introduction of the Couples brand and its all-inclusive concept.

To mark the anniversary, the heirs of the founder and its managers threw a commemorative celebratory reception, dinner and party, that was indeed a stellar affair, and then some!

My daahlings, the spirit of Abe Issa and his joie de vivre and sense of occasion were definitely in the air. We are talking prime time here, and who did prime time better than "Mr. Jamaica". Well, my dears, it was up to his heirs and successors to follow suit, and sweet-things, they did fabulous, like it was going out of style!

Oh my word, with the ultimate party elixir - champagne - flowing like the fountain of youth, the night started with a cocktail prelude on the front lawns of the historical resort. Here there was nothing but the finest in food and beverage on offer, before moving to the resort's poolside and deck, overlooking the Caribbean sea, with the resort's very cosy au natural beach, the Tower Isle, beckoning from across the waves. With the sound of Wayne Armond's Warm and Easy aggregation setting the musical mood, followed by the oh-soo-very-talented Kingston Drummers, who upped the tempo with some Afrocentric drumming that segued into a fabulous cabaret-styled performance by the musical band Pace. My dears, aam-a-telling-y'all, this here island paradise never looked, sounded or tasted better!

Leading socialites

And then there were the guests - a number of leading socialites from the nation's capital journeyed over to join the leading citizenry of Ocho Rios and its suburbia to break bread and make merry with the Issa family.

Among the notables out were: head of the Issa clan Lee Issa, his siblings, twin sister Jackie Issa, the gorgeous Suzanne Issa, Carole Issa-Cartade and hubby, real estate power player Robert Cartade and their son Sebastian Cartade, in from Florida; their baby brother Paul Issa; head of Couples Resorts Glenn Lawrence; Gary Stephens, VP operations Couples Resorts; MP and Junior Minister Bobby Montague; head of the EU delegation Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni and his very charming wife, Fiela; Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva and his lovely wife, Sara; Honorary Consul of Iceland Robert MacMillan; SSP Derrick Shand of the JCF and the charming Delores Royce-Graham.

Also out were socialites Anthony and Jeanne Watson; Charles Hanna; the tres elegant Sue McManus; legal luminary Chris Bovell and his fab wife Michelle; the elegant Joy Mahfood; George Fatta; Tony Lindo and the lovely Dr. Elaine Williams; Sally Porteous; Onesto and Josie Maffessanti: Peter and Annabella Prouldlock; Mr. and Mrs. Bert Ostrov; Rafael and Robin DeComas; Mr. and Mrs. Steve Kozlowski; Chris and Janine Tribley; Joey Issa and his wife Asha, (looking very pregnant); Kevin Levee and his drop-dead-gorgeous wife Cecile Levee; Stafford Subratie; Andrew and Trisha Todd; the charming Caroline Grant; Richie Sinclair; Sara Todd; Mr. and Mrs. Lenny Sherman; Denise Cox; Eric and Tasha Bogden; the charming Suzelle Snowden;

Also out were Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Marsh; Raquel Martinez; Mr. and Mrs. Mike Kirpalani; the lovely Donna Hussey; Pierre Battaglia of Couples San Souci; Couples Swept Away head Ricardo Bowleg; his colleague from Couples Negril, the charming Karen Lanigan; Mr. and Mrs. Brian Stevenson; Couples Group PR manager, the lovely Mrs. Alexandra Ghisays; the fab Tabitha Athey; Junior Germain; Cheryl Lindo; Skip and Marlene Gooch, multi-repeat guests from Michigan; and Aston Lawson from New York; plus hundreds of repeat guests who plan their annual vacation to coincide with the anniversary celebrations each year.