It’s not just how you start…it’s how you finish

2006 opened with the good news that attorney-at-law Eme Usim, who it seems was being slowly poisoned, was making steady progress.

News then broke of the two beauties. Naturally, one was looking picture-perfect (she is, after all, a natural beauty), whilst the other was notably pregnant. Former Miss Universe Trinidadian Wendy Fitzwilliam was pregnant for David Panton.

David Panton, in the interim, gained a lot of weight.

Nevis Premier Vance Amory and his wife Verniy spent New Year’s Eve in Jamaica at the chic Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel.

Alex Issa and Rebecca Tulloch had a lover’s tiff but the wedding still went off without a glitch on February 18.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel opened in Cayman.

Jamaicans now need visas to travel to Cayman.

News came out of the United Kingdom that the well-appointed Hyde Park three-bedroom pied-a-terre was complete. There was a warning too, that the non-payment of utility bills is frowned upon by the Brits.

Nicholas Scott presented an engagement ring to Kaili McDonnough ahead of Laura Gambrill’s wedding to Jason Henzell

Mike Henry wowed us all at Jazz as he stepped up to the mic with Patti LaBelle.

The ‘golden boys’ joined the campaign trail for more wealth.

Laura got closer to Phillip, but by year-end however, there was much distance. Perhaps a result of the heat generating from the ‘kitchen cabinet.’

Damian Marley got bitten by the Trini love bug – Cristal Chaitram

Love, however, had fizzled out for the niece, who by the end of 2006, was definitely MIA.

Marilyn Robinson Cornelius moved from managing hotels to managing the career of students at the University of Technology (UTech).

Janet Farrow celebrated 50 and by year-end was in a relationship with designer Bill Edwards.

Gary Barrow moved to Trinidad.

Nelson Christian Stokes wed (for the second time) the gorgeous Kayon Elisabeth Smith.

Architect Rivi Gardner tied the knot for the second time too. His choice was Margaret East of Bali.

Sophia Max Brown and the former tennis sensation become an item. Listen out in 2007 for some major decisions.

Mitsie Seaga starts sipping Champagne each weekend with Zia Mian. Mitsie also became a grandmother (this time, thanks to daughter Anabella).

Financier Judith Green returns to Jamaica from a six-year banking stint in the Big Apple with Citibank and joins RBTT.

Emily Crooks and Beverley Anderson Manley start This Morning.

A foiled kidnap attempt in Manor Park. Ransom paid in Ocho Rios by the supermarket owners. Two cars returned to the bank as the ‘owners’enjoyed lunch at a popular Chinese restaurant.

We all know about that infamous glove not fitting but the condom not fitting sent the city into a veritable tailspin.

The new name became shock and awe ‘baby sucker’.

Bill and Hillary Clinton visited Jamaica for Easter. Their visit was minor however, compared to the credit card theft from the senior executive’s four-wheel drive, and the shopping spree at a popular computer store followed by a jewellery store.

Then there was the before-Xmas move out, the daughter’s key being duplicated, helper locked in and the rest of household goods, including the computer, taken.

And then the final Easter vignette.Good Friday, the wife pulled off the weave, gave her a ‘gentle’ push resulting in a gentle splash in the pool.Neighbours in the ritzy neighbourhood now fully understand why Macka Diamond’s song Bun Him was in constant rotation.

Melissa Warwar and hubby Jim moved to St Kitts.

Babsy turned 60 with much pomp and pageantry.

Richard Branson launches Virgin Atlantic in Montego Bay.

The fabulous 40-year-old Fenella Kennedy said ‘I do’ to 30-year-old David Holland.

Brian Jardim and Ian Dear take Margaritaville to Turks & Caicos.

Kingston obsesses over Filipino nannies whilst the West goes in search of the perfect au pair.

Marika and Adam Miller move to Trelawny.

Uptowners went into panic mode.Well, having taken the trainer into their luxe home for private pilates sessions they subsequently discovered that the guy’s an ex- convict.And his social worker wife. suddenly dead. Thankfully by year-end, he hadn’t returned as the next new ‘wow’… after all, this is Jamaica.

Danhai Williams presents his wonderful Hollywood pearly whites and causes much excitement in Kingston.

Hell truly hath no fury like.oops, but what a combustion when gas and water mix.

Interests move from Filipino nannies to a frantic search for ‘white’ babies to adopt.

Work permits of those who danced away the night into the wee hours of the morning are cancelled.A desperate search commences for a Jamaican passport.

Anna Brown and Daniel Melville announce their engagement.

The Mobay meltdown commences.

July.wife’s neck in a brace, a result of a brouhaha with the visiting husband of his ex.

By October, the marriage of less than 365 days becomes undone. sending shockwaves around the island.

Then came the PG 20 and over non-denominational.Described as the ultimate in high-end luxury adult sex toy and called the ‘cone’, the promise was to hit all the right spots. This together with its ‘hands-free’ design left one particular woman grinning from ear to ear.

Heather Shields gets engaged to David Goldson.leaves Digicel and joins Scotia Bank.

The wedding date changed from July to November but alas, there was no wedding in 2006 for Imani Duncan and Basil Waite.

Leila Younis and four-year-old Georgio Hado return from Lebanon.

Mirah Lim’s Wedgwood blue wedding is called off!!

Gavin Beckford leaves GTech.2007 will see him at Jamaica National.

Deika Morrison who left politics is consulting at Jamaica National.

The top cop’s son’s throat is slashed in August right in front of that well-established store at Central Plaza.

Scandal in the hallowed halls of diplomacy.

Members of the diplomatic corps cry foul at a particular advertiser.

The year’s shocker.Gail and Stephen Ueker call it quits.

Becki Patterson divorces Richard (paid the full costs) but keeps his name.ostensibly for the children.

Shock and Awe: Air Jamaica plane detained in Miami for outstanding funds. Amazingly Mike Conway is still on the payroll at the end of 2006.

Bernadette Mckinley weds Joseph A Matalon in Florida.

Paul Chen Young weds Korean Marie Young in Florida.

Captain Dave McRae is seen around town with Felicity Crosswell-Brandt. By year-end they’re an item.

Head of Delegation of the European Commission in Jamaica, Gerd Jarchow and his wife Mara leave for Belgium.

The news sends shockwaves around Montego Bay… ‘The Fab 9’ are now even more fabulous at 7.