Carla Seaga

From Kingston to Hanover, come next week Jamaica will be in the throes of a royal visit, commemorating and celebrating the visit of His Majesty, King Juan Carlos of Spain and Her Majesty Queen Sophia.

This will be the first visit by any Spanish monarch to Jamaica, a former Spanish colony. Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva and wife Sara Silva, as Spain's first citizens here, and the Jamaican Government, are readying themselves to host the monarchs. It's the hottest social ticket in town next week, with socialites everywhere brushing up on their Spanish for the visit. Alas, while this is a fab gesture, it is not necessary as King Juan Carlos is a linguist, who is equally at home in English and French as he is in his native Spanish plus Italian, Portuguese and Catalan. Her Majesty is equally so in English, French, Spanish, German and her native Greek.

Official engagements

With one state dinner at King's House, a fab reception out west at the Grand Palladium Hotel in Hanover, an audience with Jamaican Olympians, plus a number of other official engagements in between, y'all know that it's all about couture and haute snobissimo come Tuesday and Wednesday. And, already, the fab people are out gobbling up the hot frocks still available!

And, Aquarians everywhere are celebrating with the style and panache, appropriate to mark the occasion. Among those celebrating birthdays this season include: David Holland, who celebrates his birthday today with wife, the absolutely fab Fenella Kennedy-Holland, promising a rather intimate do. Tomorrow being Valentine's Day, however, it will be a case of double celebrations for judge and scholar, Marlene Malahoo-Forte, as she also marks her birthday. Modelling and entertainment personality Weston Haughton; former model and beauty, the oh-so-gorgeous Michelle Moodie and the lovely Seya-Ann Henry will all celebrate their birthdays on Sunday.

Legal Eagle Jacqui Salmon will celebrate on Tuesday, the 17th, and Canada-based modelling hunk Andrew Dawes will make it his very special shindig on the 19th. Belated birthday wishes to the fab Audrey Miller as well who celebrated her birthday on Monday.

The Honorary Consul of Lithuania, the lovely Lois Sherwood and the absolutely fab Nevine Heaven both celebrated on Wednesday. The lovely Maureen Lee celebrated her birthday yesterday and a very special happy belated birthday wishes to the lovely Carla Seaga, who celebrated her birthday on February 4.

Then, just when the world had almost forgotten the most unfortunate comments in that BBC interview, we have another individual using the nation's Parliament to spew his personal bias.

Enlighten others

Perhaps, the member of parliament from St Ann, who spoke so passionately about the danger posed by homosexuals who carry firearms, could enlighten the rest of us who are still in the dark, as to just how he came by his information.

Is there a question on the form that requires applicants for such licences to indicate their sexual preference, and in ticking it provided the MP with the basis for his ranting, and the desk-thumping by his equally ignorant colleagues that followed his presentation? One would definitely like to know!

Sadly, however, it is the failure of people like the MP in question and others who share his views that has inspired the story in March's Essence Magazine, now hitting racks and mailboxes across the United States and the world, which seeks to make a link between dancehall music, homophobia and the increase in unlawful killings here. Hardly publicity Jamaica needs at this juncture, but when you consider the totality of the evidence and the latest puerile statements from one elected to lead, one can fully understand the need of those at Essence to do such a story.

Now, remember, it's all about the Hanover Charities annual fund-raising Sugar Cane Ball at the tres fab Round Hill resort come tomorrow, as it promises to be fab!

( L - R ) Lois Sherwood, Marlene Malahoo-Forte, Nevine Heaven