Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Left: Peter Phillips, aspirant for the presidency of the People's National Party. Right: Martin

My dears, first there was the collapse of the Ricky Azan-led investment scheme, and this was followed by the Carlos Hill Cash Plus debacle - the fallout from which is still to be fully understood and appreciated.

And on the heels of all of that, now the news of the impending demise of the much-vaunted David Smith Olint investment scheme.

Dear hearts, believe you me when this here scribe says it is high time to pray, as the bottom has just fallen out of the well.

Hand-wringing

The silence all around is the fretting, hand-wringing and second-guessing that have now become the norm for many a distraught client. Many are from the upper echelons of the society, who are now faced with a serious financial shortfall, but still have to contend with bills and the daily cost of living on dwindling resources that were once being augmented by these now dying 'investment schemes'.

Dears, trust moi, not only are we living in interesting times, we can all expect a decline overall, as the meltdown that is to come will affect all sectors.

The rush of wind y'all just heard was the lifeblood of the economy for the last four or so years being sucked out, with a vengeance.

Swearing like mad

Then, my dears, news of Dr Peter Phillips' challenge to People's National Party president, Portia Simpson Miller, has caused some of the leaders within that organisation to be swearing like mad, as they are all very upset with the challenge coming at this time.

Seems like while they say the challenge was inevitable, the timing was not, and they are decidedly not at all amused.

Word is that the party elders are still trying to forestall the challenge before it rips the party asunder, as they think now is definitely not the right season for any such challenge.

While Simpson Miller might not be the darling of the middle and upper classes, she is most certainly the darling of the masses, and it is they who vote in numbers large enough to affect the results of elections. More anon, as these are more than interesting times!

Anyway, my daahlings, the fab ones party on. And speaking of the fab things and beautiful people, the rage in fab circles is all about the Heart and Sole boutique in Manor Park.

Owned and operated by the tres elegant Mary Abrahams, the place is a treasure trove for the fab and fashion-conscious, offering the latest in designer clothing, shoes, accessories and all things fashionable for the world's leading designers and catwalks.

Dears, it is definitely the find for the summer, as it is most definitely one of the more elegant boutiques in the city, offering up some even more elegant items.

Fraser is 60

Peter Fraser, man of impeccable grace and charm - File

And then, what do you do when you are the island's leading hotelier, celebrated the world over as a bon vivant, man of style and impeccable grace and charm, on the occasion of your 60th birthday?

When you are Peter Fraser, you opt for a very different mode of celebration to mark the momentous milestone. And so it was that last weekend saw the affable Fraser and a critically hand-picked shortlisted coterie of friends all heading for one of the island's more charming boutique hotels.

It was the very snazzy Mar Blue, located on the very fashionable and oh so very 'in' south coast neighbourhood of Treasure Beach!

Luvs, we are talking four days and nights of fabulous activities, the kind that Fraser is accustomed to, while others dare to dream but are never bold enough to undertake.

Sweet things, we are talking a takeover here, punctuated by lazy mornings and afternoons; late evenings and long nights, with an outing to the famed YS Falls; guesting at champagne reception at the oh-so-fabulous Driftwood Villa; lunch near Whitehouse; and the pièce de résistance, an absolutely scrumptuous dinner on Sunday by the hotel's celebrated chef, Axel, to crown the celebrations.

My daahlings, it was all that and then some, as among those joining the celebrated hotelier and bon vivant for the celebrations included his sibling Paul Fraser; his friend of long-standing Margaret Kadian Justensen, who jetted in from Washington; Ruby Martin; Claude Fletcher; the venerable Gloria Moodie, who jetted in from Canada for the occasion; hotelier Michael Bryne; Don Topping and his wife Brenda Belding Topping, she flying in from Cayman; Oral Webster, who flew in from Bermuda; Charles and Luciana Muneri, in from New York, her birthday being on Friday; Ernesto Ochoa Gonzales, in from Miami; Shirley Stanglmayr del Fabio; Dr David Lambert Brown; Judith Palomino; and mega-talented singer and performer Roger Mendez, plus a number of others.

Other birthdays

And speaking of birthdays, the fab Heather Blanco took the honours on Bastille Day, as the lovely lass shares the date with the French National Day.

Also celebrating this season is Capt Ewan Oliver, who actually celebrated on July 5.

Hotelier and hospitality/tourism consultant James Samuels celebrated his special day on Tuesday, the 15th. And on Sunday, it was all about style denizen Carmen Brown, as the glamour maven celebrated her special day.

Champagne toasts all around, along with beluga treats.

Premier of Turks and Caicos Islands, Michael Missick, and Olint's David Smith at January's Air Jamaica jazz and blues festival. - File photos