Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Guardsman Group chairman Kenny Benjamin (right) shows his belle, Aloima Suarez (second left), Vinay Walia's (left) album of funny photos, while Sidjae Robinson joins the festivities.
Chester Francis-Jackson, Sunday Gleaner Writer
He is known within the ranks of the professional circles as an astute no-nonsense chartered accountant. He is quietly referred to as the 'finance minister' for the Guardsman Group of Companies. On the social circuit, he has the reputation as a serious partier who not only knows how to enjoy a good party, but also knows how to throw a good one!
Well, if there was any doubt in anyone's mind about the efficacy of the last statement, then his 40th birthday bash on Tuesday of last week should put them to rest. Vinay Walia was not only the man of the moment, he proved host and party giver extraordinaire, as he opened up his fabulously appointed condo in the golden triangle and not only welcomed friends and colleagues to join him, but he threw a party to remember!
Shindig
And, my dears, it was a shindig, and then some!
Sweet things, it most definitely was Vinay Walia's birthday, and traditionally, when it is one's birthday, the usual practice is that it is one's friends, colleagues and relatives who come bearing gifts. Well, my dears, Vinay Walia turned the tables and upended tradition, as it was he who presented each guest in attendance with a treasure trove of presents. It was a simply marvellous party and the memories will long live on.
And dears it was like that, and then some!
An Indian national by birth, the rather affable Walia decided on making Jamaica his home some 15 years ago. And not in some perfunctory manner, as is the mode of some members of the Jamaican elite who have one home in Kingston and another in Florida, but in a more substantive manner, that saw make him this island his home, and concretely so.
Well, my dears, for his 40th birthday bash, the theme and spirit of the celebration was definitely and fabulously Jamaican in scope and essence!
And so to facilitate this, decorator to the fab, Cindy Breakspeare, teamed up with the absolutely charming Miranda Ragbeir and together they worked the already fabulous Walia residence into a fab centrepiece of indulgent relaxed style, ease and comfort that was pretty much party central!
Doves, the evening began with the birthday boy and his love interest, the lovely Sidjae Robinson, welcoming guests to their home. Felicitations out of the way, it was then into the simply fabulous wrap-around old-time porch, lawns and gardens, boasting a fashionable little 'creek' that rings the garden and condominium, not unlike a moat, in places.
With the gardens turned into lounge areas, dining and smoking promenades, y'all know that this was a case of fabulous to the bone, and then some! And with a troika-styled setting of absolutely fab and colourful kiosk housing the fare for the do, y'all know we are definitely talking smasheroni here and nothing but!
Welcoming atmosphere
Well, sweethearts, with such a welcoming atmosphere the stage was set for a rollicking good time, and guests did just that. Dovecakes, absolutely nobody needed any urging!
Dears, some could have danced all night, and nearly did! Others simply sat in the gardens and enjoyed the magic and beauty of the moment.
Dears, we mean hot-like-that!
Among the notables were: Finance Minister Audley Shaw and his fab companion, Susan Duhaney; Security Minister Trevor MacMillan and wife Dr Olivia McDonald; Senator Dwight Nelson; Dr Wykeham McNeill; Indian High Commissioner HE Moheinder Grover; Deputy High Commissioner of South Africa Matshidiso D. Raphadu; security mogul Kenny Benjamin and his companion, the lovely Aloima Suarez; Peter Bangerter; Hillary Phillips, QC; J. Lester Spaulding of the RJR Group; the gorgeous Minna Israel; Al Niazi; the lovely Suzie Benjamin.
Spotted
We spotted: Dr Dhiru Tanna; Caryl Fenton; Rupert Bent and wife, the fab Cindy Breakspeare; Anthony and Jeanne Bell; Evan and Betsy Williams; Ron Brown and wife Valerie Juggan-Brown; Rae Barrett; Keith and Janet Senior; Carl Chantrelle; Dr Dhirendra Garg and his lovely wife, Merciline Garg; Kingsley Cooper and the fab Romae Gordon; Harold Brady; Betty and Steve Ashley; Tanny Shirley; Dumetz and wife Sonja Sutherland; Stanley Constantine; Rosie Iver and her daughter Kate Iver; Jeffrey and Sherida Dujon; Patrick Bailey; Kathy-Ann Pike; David and Indira Couch; William and Candice Craig; Dr Andre Foote and daughter, the lovely Kathy Foote.
Also out were: Tariq Malik and son Moaz Malik; Anup Chandiram the absolutely lovely Carol Pessoa; Donovan Perkins; Anya Schnoor; Colin Steele; Gary and Bernadette Barrow; Ueli Bangerter; Gunjan Mansingh; Tarun and Catherine Handa; Paul Hanworth; Mrs Aditi Dhiman; Rajan and Sonia Trehan; Winston Watson; R. Christine King; Cmdr George Overton; Donna Harpaul; Ricky Browne and the fab Conny Zahner; Robert and Odette Epstein; Claudette Preston; Craig Morrison and the lovely Miranda Ragbier, plus several more.
But my dears, the piece de resistance was definitely The Daily Vin Walia: A spoof of a newspaper, done by friends, complete with photographs and stories all chronicling the partying ways and more racy social outings of the bespectacled financial controller.
My dears, it's a must-see! And, talk about the way to go, pumpkins, this was definitely one of those!
