A Michael Jackson wannabe entertains with some of the late singer's dance moves.

Years ago when international financial consultant Mark Jones of Boston, Massachusetts, first came to Jamaica, it was in the capacity of the official remit to seek to help the Jamaican Government divest itself of its bad debt portfolio due to the financial meltdown that occurred in the '90s.

A veteran of governmental and private-sector debt restructuring and sale, Jones first came to the Jamaican scenario with a wealth of experience gained through working in places such as India, Indonesia, the Middle East and the United States of America where his expertise saw him restructuring various bad debt portfolios for governments and private-sector entities and earned him the reputation of being the very best in his field! When that expertise first brought him to Jamaica, little did he know that fate would intervene and would lead to him taking the decision to relocate here and become not only an ardent supporter of Jamaica, but an integral member of the society, immersing himself in all aspects of the Jamaican way of life, as well as its many institutions dedicated to the nurturing and enhancement of the life and living conditions of the unfortunate underprivileged.

Teens For Technology

It all began when Mark Jones' son, the pre-teen Anders Jones, first accompanied his father to Kingston on one of his business trips, which led to an encounter that would eventually lead to a friendship. That spawned a visit to the school of his new friend and, faced with the stark reality of the lack of computer facilities available at the school, the young Jones, under the guidance of his father, went on to motivate his friends and schoolmates to donate a computer lab. This comprised a building and 10 computers, including software and scholarships and internships for teachers to the school in question.

That initiative led to the creation of an international NGO named Teens For Technology, which has seen the organisation donating thousands of computers to several schools in Jamaica. The programme became so successful it has gone on to duplicate its success here, in Africa, Eastern Europe and Haiti, while still expanding its role.

A long-time philanthropist and believer in the mantra to whom much is given, much is expected, Mark Jones' decision to move to Jamaica was based in part on the desire to continue monitoring and servicing his son's initiative. His son is now away at college in California. He has capitalised on and expanded a number of business opportunities that presented themselves over the years. He also decided to become involved with a service club in order to be better able to channel his energies and serve and address the needs of some the country's less fortunate.

Rotary chosen

The service organisation chosen was the established Rotary Club of Kingston, the oldest service club, its charter dating back to the early 1950s when the club had its meetings at the prestigious Myrtle Bank Hotel, located in the heart of a booming downtown Kingston. Today, the Rotary Club of Kingston meets at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel and serves as the de facto father of all Rotary clubs in Jamaica, as it boasts a membership of just over 100, supported by their loyal spouses and has a history of charity and patronage of noteworthy distinction.

To celebrate the continuing tradition of service and philanthropy, on Saturday, August 22, Jones and his charmingly fabulous wife, celebrated architect Julie Jones, opened up the doors to their Stony Hill residence and hosted a poolside do that was as charming as it was fabulously exciting!

Hosted against the theme of a tribute to the late King of Pop, international superstar Michael Jackson, the affair was fabulously short on ceremony and long on entertainment as Rotarians, their spouses, friends and relatives got out their party shoes and best Jackson moves and partied up a swell vibe! And, to add to the score, there was a dancing trio, headed by a Jackson 'dancealike', who showed his latest and hottest moves to such favourite anthems as Thriller and Beat It, the whole thing making for effortlessly fab entertainment.

And there was the fare - a simply marvellous buffet of goodies prepared and presented by Akbar Indian Restaurant that was such a treat, it proved hard to resist, even here yet, not to return for seconds. But there was nothing to beat the sense of camaraderie and relaxed party mood that was de rigour, and it made for a wonderful outing with the piece le resistance being the life size cut-out of United States President Barack Obama, keeping guests' company by poolside.

Among the notables out were President of the Rotary Club of Kingston, Noel Osbourne; Mike Fennell; Matthew and Jenny Pragnell; Chris and Kimberly Issa; Steve Ashley; Geoff and Jennifer Messado; Anthony and Angie Harris and their lovely daughter Christelle Harris, in from California; Rajiv Bakshi; the very charming Scarlette Gillings; Laker Levers; Tal and Denise Stokes; William Massias and the fabulous Tracy Moses; Mashi Mango and Jane Pango; André Hylton; Astor Duggan; Jennifer Mahfood; Mark Drew Martin; Marcia Turner; Michael and Natalie Buckle; Colin Henry; Traci-Ann Wint; Courtney and Melanie Lawes; Anthony Hall; Janice Buchannan; Roland and Dale Anglin; Heron Thompson; Ryan and Monique Bourne; Bradley Finson-Smith; Annie Harris; Milton and Sarah Gray; Byron Kerr squiring Winsome Young; Albert and Terri Warren; Ken Wilson; Dale England, visiting from New Jersey; Richard Gordon; Maxine Willocks; Sixto and Andrea Coy; Effiom Whyte; Remy Byerton and Diane Wilson; and Everton Davies plus a number of others.

Kerry Kentish (left) and Tamara Rose are looking great! - PHOTOS BY Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Mark and Julie Jones, hosts of the party for members of the Rotary Club family, share a moment at their Hermitage Dam Road, Stony Hill, residence on Friday.