Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor 
Mrs. Aida Issa, wife of Hon John Issa, and American hotel tycoon and real estate mogul, Donald Trump, in Mar A Lago, Palm Beach, Florida, for the intimate and hush-hush wedding of a mutual friend, recently. The Issas and 'The Donald' spent the weekend in Mar A Lago.
Then, my dears, it was one very high-profile wedding, but also one very hush-hush affair, as it was an international fab-fest that saw a number of the international jet-setters and members of the international 'A-list' in attendance.
And little wonder, as for those in the know, it was billed as the wedding of the season, lasting as it did over a three-day and night period. Two illustrious families came together at a gathering of the who's who of international society.
My dears, it was the invite that some would die for, with Jamaican international 'A-crowder' and regional hotel tycoon John Issa and his elegant wife, the fabulous Aida Issa, in attendance, as was New York Hotel tycoon and real estate mogul Donald Trump. And we have an exclusive photo to share with you.
All that Jazz!
The hostesses of leading sponsor of the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, Olint TCI, were a welcome addition every night. Here they pose at the entrance of the Cotton Club on Friday, January 25, at The Aqueduct, Rose Hall, Montego Bay. - Contributed photo
My dears, it was all about Montego Bay and its annual Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, over by The Aqueduct, Rose Hall, last weekend. And amid the boos and blues, there were some absolutely flawless performances that proved truly ecstatic. Among those memorable performances, was that of international superstar Diana Ross!
My daahlings, talk about grace, under fire! Well, my dears, the ageless diva Ms Ross was supremely so and the world of music, particularly the 11th annual staging of the popular event was the better for it!
Deputy premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Floyd Hall (left), and Premier Michael Missick (right) hang out inside the Olint skybox with David Smith, founder of Olint TCI, during the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival on Saturday, January 26.
To begin with my dears, Ms Ross is a multi-continental diva, and divas are divas, not merely because of a particular talent and/or offering but moreso because of the character and energy their personalities are infused with.
My daahlings, the late Maria Callas was not merely celebrated for her flawless voice and memorable performances, but equally so for her famous, or should we say - notorious temper tantrums. One cannot forget Kathleen Battle's behaviour here a few years ago and Jamaica's very own Grace Jones, too, is a celebrated diva, particularly in Europe where her cult-like following made her the toast of the Western Europe underground subculture, and nightlife.
In this respect, those in the know, who attended Saturday night's performance for the purpose of seeing the legendary singer, would have known that for matters of copyright, etc., Ms Ross does not permit the rebroadcast of her image on screens in the venue. And any impresario worth his salt would do too.
Professional
Three of Diana Ross' children onstage seem concerned for their mom at the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival. - Janet Silvera Photo
In this respect, the artiste was not at fault. Pity those, however, who thought otherwise and felt cheated by what they considered uncharitable demands by her. Understanding their pique, however, does not excuse their boorish behaviour in seeking to spoil her performance for those who were enjoying it, by their chorus of sustained boos.
Diana Ross was awesome and then some, performing as she did to a largely hostile audience and not once losing her composure even as her children retreated from their perch, at the side of the stage, to the comfort and security of the stretch limo, that was waiting stage side, in obvious concern for their safety and security and that of their mom.
Pity. Overall, Ms Ross lived up to her image and star billing!
But my dears, that was the only black-eye on a three-night musical extravaganza, that was a fabulous treat!
My dears, leading the politicos in attendance was Prime Minister Bruce Golding; Finance Minister Audley Shaw and his fab companion Susan Duhaney; Hon. Mike Henry and his wife Dawn Chambers-Henry; Information and Culture Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange; hotel tycoon and tourism power player Butch Stewart; security conglomateur Kenny Benjamin; Kingsley Cooper and his companion Romae Gordon; Peter Fraser; Sheryl Lee-Ralph; Julius Irving; Churchill Neita; Karen Neita; Harold Brady; Sophia MaxBrown; Nancy McLean; Barrington Burke-Green; Seya-Ann Henry-Wilson; Granville Davidson; Dwight Moore and his sister Andrea Moore, hanging with their dad; Enid Harrow; Brian Sang; Sophia Leahong.
Hot list
And then there was the Blues bar - the hottest place to be during the festival, as here was where the fab came to lyme. Some of the notables spotted here included: Jamaica's Ambassador to China, His Excellency Wayne McCook; former Miss Jamaica Universe, Angelie Martin; Pulse director Hilary Phillips; World Wise bosses Noel Strachan and Patrick Cawley; Jamrock Magazine's David 'Squeeze' Annakie; OCEAN Style publisher Douglas Gordon; Peter Lloyd, Stephen Golding; Robert Collins, HYPE TV CEO Johann Dawes; CVM TV's Winford Williams, Milk Sewell and Candace Buchanan; FAME's François St Juste and Claudette Powell; Emily Deere and Jeff Hanke of the Washington Post; Dr Christopher Waul; Safia Cooper; Montego Bay personalities Leroy 'Duggo' Dunkley; Divas of fabness Sandra Kennedy, Cecile Levee, and April Parchment; Bruce Spencer and Lachu Ramchandani - who hosted one fab and happening post concert brunch at his Ironshore home on Saturday - plus scores more.
