From left: Sarah Chai, Travis MacMillan, Sandy Lee, Sheila Benjamin McNeill and her husband Wykeham McNeill, take a moment to pose for the social pages at the movie premiere.

And so, with a mandate that sees it charting a new course as it moves away from the perception that it is a club of privilege for the privileged, the Consular Corps of Jamaica has a new approach.

It seeks to transform both its image and mandate to a more proactive organisation, taking a more aggressive role in addressing the social ills of the wider community. The corps, in an effort to shore up its coffers to attain this objective, hosted the Jamaican international premiere of the Hollywood sci-fi futuristic film - X-Men Origins: Wolverine on April 20!

The film premiered in Kingston to the flashbulbs of the paparazzi and the red-carpet hoopla attendant at such gala events at the landmark Carib Cinema in Cross Roads, to a near capacity audience of VIPs, notables, the chic and the fashionable. The movie held more than just a passing interest for many Jamaicans, as the film saw the Emmy Award-winning Craig Lyn, son of Captain Michael and Thalia Lyn, working as the special effects consultant on the film.

And interestingly, the film that was scheduled for international release on Friday, May 1, was also premiered on Monday in Tempe, Arizona, and saw fans and moviegoers joining lead actor, Australian Hugh Jackman, who arrived on a Harley Davidson motorcycle, to near rapturous applause.

And while the Jamaican screening lacked Hollywood star-power, the excitement and anticipation were no less here in Kingston. The movie that explores the sci-fi genre, pitting humans against mutants (genetically altered or some say gifted) counterparts has an international following. Kingston being on the cutting edge of style, fashion and film was no less an exciting a screening than Tempe.

With women dressed to the nines, their gentlemen equally so for the most part and the hint and suggestion of Hollywood glitter permeating the evening's atmosphere, the Carib Cinema in Cross Roads buzzed with fabulous expectations!

Fab outing

And with sponsors such as 1860 Wines, Island Grill, M&M Chocolates, Sandals and the Guardsman Group, sharing title billing and providing goodies for guests, we are talking a fab outing here and nothing but!

Among the guests were Dr Wykeham McNeill and wife, the ultra-gorgeous Sheila Benjamin McNeill; Honorary Consul of Nicaragua and dean of the Consular of Jamaica, William Tavares-Finson and wife, the lovely Sandy Tavares-Finson, and their daughter, Victoria; Honorary Consul of Iceland Robert MacMillan and his companion, Candy DePass; Honorary Consul of Ukraine Kenny Benjamin and companion, Aloima Suarez; Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Thailand, Thalia Lyn, her hubby Capt (Ret) Michael Lyn and sibling, Joseph Chang, visiting from Canada; Honorary Consul of Ecuador and Honorary Consul Emeritus (and grand dame) Clelia Barrieto de Hunter; Honorary Consul of Slovakia and President of the Rotary Club of Kingston Chris Issa and wife the lovely Kimberly Mais Issa; Honorary Consul of Ghana Patrick Lynch and wife the tres elegant Marguerite Lynch. Also out were retired honorary consul of Switzerland, Peter Bangerter and his successor, Ueli Bangerter; Honorary Consul of the Philippines Everoy Chin; Honorary Consul of Latvia Robert Scott; Honorary Consul of The Bahamas Keva Hylton; the Deputy Consul of Thailand Capt David McRae; CEO of Medical Associates Hospital, Dr Michael Banbury; Commissioner of Customs Danville Walker; Capt (Ret) Michael Feanny and wife, attorney-at-law Anne-Marie Feanny; Gordon and Janet Robinson; Valarie Juggan-Brown; Mark Berry and his stunning wife, Jenni; Rosa Joseph; Robbie and Odette Epstein; the lovely Rachel McLarty; Vinay Walia and companion, Sidjae Robinson; Robert Haughton; Fay Jacobs; Paul Hanworth of 1876 Wines; Mr and Mrs John Ralston; Courtney Macko and his wife, Donna; the lovely Cornelia Zahner; Andres and Kathy Barreiro; Travis MacMillan and his companion, the lovely Sandy Lee, just back from holidaying in China; the lovely Nicole Lobban; and the charming Dania Thompson, plus several others.

The movie was a worthy fund-raising cause, deserving of the support of all, enabling as it will the Consular Corps of Jamaica to stage a timely intervention in an attempt to assist with the stemming of the slide towards an uncaring and callous society, made that much more so each passing day by the harsh economic conditions that act as a paralysing factor in the marginalised communities.

Kudos all around, to William Tavares-Finson and his team, on their new civic-minded vision and path.

From left: Robert MacMillan, Patrick Lynch and Clelia Barrieto de Hunter enjoy a joke at the Consular Corps of Jamaica cocktail reception for the premiere of the movie 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine', held at Carib, Cross Roads, last Monday night.

Sandra Tavares Finson (left) and daughter, Victoria, were out to enjoy the movie too. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

From left: Rachel McLarty, William Tavares Finson and Marguerite Lynch were among the guests at the Consular Corps of Jamaica's cocktail reception for premiere of the movie 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'.