There could not have been a more idyllic venue than the Hope Zoo, St Andrew, for the Jamaica Observer’s Salut! Applaud It!

Indeed, the event’s premise was perfectly summarised in the words of Kenny Benjamin, Guardsman Group Ltd chairman and executive chairman of the Hope Zoo Preservation Foundation:

“Best time to plant a tree is now.”

While the statement spoke to the need for the next generation to be more involved in environmental issues, it could easily have been stretched to include nurturing the art of socialising around the table.

The luncheon, catered at the Zoo’s Serengeti Restaurant, was a light and casual affair as all enjoyed the buffet-style menu to the soothing background music of the African Tribal chant.

The opening dish of thick, rich red peas soup led to a quick lesson in soup-eating etiquette from ‘Aunty Novia’ – the children’s respectful pet name for Novia McDonald-Whyte, the Jamaica Observer’s senior associate editor, lifestyle and social content.

The soup course gave way to a tasty buffet offering in which guests helped themselves to roast beef, fricassee chicken, tossed vegetables and potato salad. However, there seemed to be more appetite for the conversation that the adults had to share as Benjamin and Danville Walker, managing director at the Jamaica Observer, spent most of their time fielding questions about the inner workings of their respective companies. Lucas, the Hope Zoo’s lion, was also a popular topic for the youngsters.

Dessert marked the beginning of the bigger adventure for the children as after the cookie-laced ice cream, they were treated to a few extra surprises, a cake cutting to celebrate the third anniversary of the Hope Zoo as part of the Guardsman Group and a session petting the animals.

“The restoration of the zoo is a commitment of love and dedication from me to my country. As a people, each and every one of us has a responsibility to protect the less vulnerable among us, including the environment that we continue to destroy daily. We should have in the forefront of our minds that for every tree that is cut down, two more are planted to replace that one. That is part of our responsibility in nation-building, and I want you as young people to define what you can and will do; what will be your contribution, your legacy…what will be your solutions to the many challenges that face us today,” Benjamin added.

Walker responded in kind explaining that the Zoo was a great gift to the children of Jamaica and it was the Observer’s pleasure to be part of this experience.

“They are our future,” he said.

Ten-year-old Hillel Academy student M’Kenzi Thompson gave the vote of thanks on behalf of her peers.

“I enjoyed the food and I learned a lot, like the fact that we should appreciate Jamaica,” the youngster said.

The petting session closed out the afternoon as the children were given hands-on treatment touching various objects found around the Zoo, both dead and alive, much to their delight and inquisitiveness.

— Rory Daley