The annual Women At The Control fund-raiser got off to a galloping start with Jamaica's only female jockey, Georgina Sergeon, who entered 38A Trafalgar Road pillion style on a motorbike with whip in hand and getting the crowd warmed up with a great selection of hits.
She was followed by columnist/ publicist Carole Beckford who from all indications added more fire by playing some good hits of the '70s which included Shabba Ranks. She was accompanied by her son, who gyrated to the R. Kelly hit that got the audience going.
Then the red carpet was rolled out and a white, vintage Jaguar arrived and out came ace marketing expert Millicent Lynch escorted by two white-gloved, bare-chested Pulse models. The crowd welcomed her and she gave them a repertoire that included hits like Beyoncé's Run The World and Wifey Walk Out dub done by ZJ Liquid, among other hits.
The self-styled 'big bad wolf' and senior Gleaner journalist from Montego Bay, Janet Silvera, took the stage and quickened the pace. This year, she arrived champion-boxer style, held high by musclemen. She sported boxing regalia from shorts set to robe and boots and pranced and danced as she warmed up for the challenge and signalled that she was ready to "knock out" all her opponents. She got the audience hyped and set the pace for the rest of the night.
All week long, there were whispers that telecoms giants Digicel and LIME were 'rehearsing' for a showdown. And, as soon as the name Shelly-Ann Curran, Digicel's sponsorship manager, was announced, supporters with loud cheers, whistles and noisemakers flooded the front of the stage. The shrouded Queen Shelly-Ann entered under heavy security with an entourage of two red-hooded princesses and some fine-looking musclemen.
Following her crowd-roaring introduction by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, Shelly-Ann took her predecessors 'to musical school' as the veteran politician had advised, and from start to finish, her set was highly energetic.
LIME's Tara Playfair-Scott made no grand entry; she silently stood waiting beside the stage till she was announced. Her introduction was 'a killer', an announcer, over the popular radio death-announcement theme, proclaimed the "untimely demise" one by one of those gone before her. It was priceless as it was original!
Her LIME posse was a noisy, boisterous bunch as they blew whistles and horns and screamed "Tara! Tara!" But, except for her scouts with flaming 'torches' and a great selection of hits, she was clearly no match for Shelly-Ann. It was definitely an enjoyable event, so next year, we want some winners and trophies. Enough of this 'friendly rivalry' nonsense, this was a real competition and there were three clear winners!
