A masquerade for charity

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

Well, with the threat of rain in the air and the expectant social dislocation that it posed, following on the heels of the recent flooding, Kingston and party society have been a kind of suspended animation since the passage of the tropical depression weeks ago.

The fact is, however, with cabin fever threatening the social scene, many souls there are who were just itching to go out and party away the rain blues, and so, the long-in-the-making Latin America Women's Club Masked Ball, slated for the lovely deck and lounge of the Guardsman Group corporate headquarters on Old Hope Road, was just what the doctor had prescribed!

Doctor's prescription or not, the weather forecasts every which where said it would be a wet weekend, and one would of thought that that would have been enough to put a damper on the proceedings!

Well, truth be told, that possibly would have been the case if this was a traditional Jamaican feast. This, however, was the Latin American Women's Club do, and luvs, if y'all know them hot-blooded Latin Americans, you would know that the mere threat of rain would not be enough to put a damper on any party they were having, moreover one that had the magical ingredient of a masked ball and all!

And so it was, that ignoring the weatherman and the portents, leading members of the Latin American Women's Club, their spouses, friends and supporters turned out in droves!

Social showpiece

Dears, style à la Hollywood red-carpet, the affaire had all the glitz, and razzmatazz of a social showpiece, as not only was this a masked ball, it was, in effect, one of the Latin Americans' premier social outings in the nation's capital, and then some, and it made for quite a celebratory do!

Luvs, it was pretty nigh unto a mini United Nations gala, as there were guests from Cuba, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic and yes, Little Havana, in Miami, dressed to thrill in their finery and ready to party. And that they did to the latest and traditional sounds of Latin America sounds, including reggae-Latin fusion that made for some interesting dancing, and then some!

Dears, it was quite a night, as not only was there  a range of nationalities in attendance but it was as fashionable colourful as it was a cultural crossroads and stew, making for a beautiful meld, aided and abetted by most, if not all.

There were Phantom of the Opera masks; and there was the mask of the debutante, the dilettante and the Lone Ranger. There were masks depicting horror, beauty, charm, the Jekyll and Hyde personae and, of course, masks of innocence and love, and it all made for a fab party!

Excitement

With some hot music pumping and some able and nubile bodies dancing up a storm, libations flowed and guests sampled from the food stations to their hearts' content. There was no denying the excitement brought on, no doubt, by the absence of the promised rains and yes, the occasion was one fine outing.

Among those out were: Indian High Commissioner Mohinder Grover; club President Maria Pinchin, vice-president the beautiful Rilla Haq and husband Sean; treasurer Aloima Suarez and companion Kenny Benjamin, Public Relations Director Norma Harris; Emile and Jennifer Azan; special charities events coordinator Angela Dabdoub; Robert MacMillan and the lovely Rachael Gore; the elegant Ofelia Morin and daughter Sonita Morin Abrahams; Katia Villarino; Dr John and Janine Joseph; Commander George Oveton; Mark McKenzie and wife Betty Valiente McKenzie; Vinay Walia; Dr Jean-Pierre Holmes and wife Dr Annisa Holmes; US Embassy official James Hathaway and Trinidadian beauty, the lovely Wanda Rennis. Also out were: Robert Haughton; Godfrey and Beverly Kawass; George and Hilda Kawass; Ueli Bangerter; the lovely Nasma Chin; Harold and Denise Williams; mom-and-daughter duo Crystal and Vivia Stephenson; Eugenio and Rosario Pena; Neil Lewis; Miguel Rodriquez and wife Isis Suarez; Nicolas Benjamin; the lovely Sheraine Murray; Aida Young; Patrick and Lillian Frith; Tony and Sharon Walker; Richard Nevers; Jessica Clough; Domenico and Lisa Azan; Steve Lin; Tony Smatt; the beautiful Yohany Chin; Steven and Janeth Hanna; Omar and Trudy Cardoza; Rinat Drang; plus a number of others.