75th birthday celebrations for former Prime Minister of Jamaica PJ Patterson commenced on Thursday, April 8, with family portraits at the family home and culminated on Saturday, April 10, at the RIU Ocho Rios Hotel, Mammee Bay, St Ann. As birthday parties go, this one, handled with aplomb and, thankfully, without pretension, left those lucky enough to be in attendance with that warm, fuzzy feeling of an evening well spent.

The casual, white orchid-filled affair (the fabulous orchids came from Shirley Whyte) commenced with cocktails ahead of an elegant spread that satisfied even the most discerning of palates. Master of ceremonies Mike Fennell handled the formalities with irreverent alacrity. The toasts began with PNP President Portia Simpson Miller, who in tracing “A Life Fulfilled”, lauded the former PM’s “fine long-distance run” and hailed him as “the quintessential statesman and Caribbean man”. She spoke to his “strength of mind and spirit, firm and steely conviction, quiet soft-spot and a vision of a greater, better, more vibrant Caribbean” that caused him to stay his course. “He laid a foundation from which Caribbean men, women and children can, have and will continue to soar…”

Friend of nearly 40 years, Dr the Hon Vincent Lawrence, OJ declared with authority that the “real PJ is… urbane, unflappable, inscrutable, careful and thoughtful”. David Muirhead, QC, brought humour as he shared a memorable PJ quote, notably that “silence cannot be misquoted” and that “PJ was (this evening) a victim of honour”. Recently returned High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Burchell Whiteman, in his easy manner, traced PJ’s journey from the hallowed halls of residence of UWI (Mona) to the corridors of political power. His tribute ended as gracefully as it began with reflection on a comment made by a very distinguished member of the Jamaican private sector, who repeatedly in conversation with him described PJ Patterson as “the most intelligent prime minister that Jamaica has had”. “As we salute and honour him on this special day, I express the hope that that intelligence coupled with his abundant energy, his generosity, his patriotism, his loyalty to his friends and his constant commitment to service will continue to enrich his life and inspire all of us and the many others who are privileged to share space with him in our country, this region and on Planet Earth.”

Indeed, the tributes were glowing but it was the musical styling of the inimitable Myrna Hague that set the tone for the entire proceedings, and were the batsmen not so formidable a complete collapse might have been unavoidable. Birthday cake cutting and the appearance of Tarrus Riley brought the formalities to an end, allowing the party to get into full swing.