ST JAMES, Jamaica— It was a grand celebratory reunion for some 43 erstwhile playmakers who were recently hosted by Sandals, the hotel company to which they were hired between 1985 and 1995.

According to organisers Raxann Chin and Natasha Parchment, the playmakers, who came from all over Jamaica, Canada, Spain, USA and England enjoyed a full day at Sandals Montego Bay on Saturday, October 19.

The homecoming for the cohort of former playmakers who maintained camaraderie, came about after not seeing each other for 30 years.

“We approached Sandals, who was absolutely so gracious to us, welcomed us with open arms, pulled out all the stops for us, gave us rooms, hosted us in Butch’s Seafood and Steaks Restaurant- just gave us the entire day here (Sandals Monday Bay), and they pulled out absolutely all the stops,” Chin said.

“On Friday we started at Pineapple Beach. We had a cocktail and then had dinner,” she added.

She explained that the reunion idea was born out of a conversation between herself and her best friend Neisha Cameron, who passed in 2015. A  WhatsApp group, which subsequently got off the ground, has now grown to 97 members.

“In April of 2024 my best friend, who I met right here at Sandals, she unfortunately passed. And on April I had this reflection of wanting to ensure that the people who are still here are still connected,” Chin disclosed.
“I am just very grateful, not only to Sandals, but for all of the other playmakers who trusted the vision, and most importantly, to my co-chair, Natasha Parchment, who was actually my entertainment supervisor,” she added.

The memory of Cameron and other deceased playmakers were honoured during the reunion celebrations.

After having a rollicking time with their former colleagues, including couples who got together while on the job back then, Chin and Parchment have announced plans to renew celebration activities every two years.

Chin, who now resides in New Jersey, attributes the experience gained by members of the group while on the job at Sandals to the successful careers they now have.

“We have so many people in this group who have extended from playmakers and have gone on in the world to do some fantastic things. We have business owners, like myself. I’m a fashion designer, I have my own business. Natasha also has her own training service. We have business owners and so many executives and important people in this group that had the tutelage from Sandals,” Chin expressed.

“Even in communications, we were on stage every night, constantly entertaining people. We were doing theatre, drama, and now I’m in the film world, and that has extended to that world, because right here from Sandals Montego Bay. So we’re thankful to Sandals for everything that they have pulled together for us,” she added.