SOCIETY, SOCIETY: Chris Blackwell honoured with JHTA Lifetime Achievement Award; Saluting the formidable Molly Rhone

>> After nearly a decade-and-a-half at the helm, Jamaica’s Molly Rhone will step down as President of the International Netball Federation (INF). Rhone, who took up the presidency in 2003, demits office on Sunday, July 21, the final day of the ongoing Netball World Cup in Liverpool, England. “She has been an inspiration for me and many others in netball. We still have a lot that Molly can do in the sport, and as long as she is willing to do so, we will welcome her,” Netball Jamaica boss, Dr. Paula Daley-Morris tells the Observer’s Sanjay Myers. Rhone’s successor is Welshwoman Liz Nicoll. “It’s a massive privilege to pick up this responsibility after Molly has served for such a long time as such an amazing president who has taken the sport forward,” says Nicoll, a former CEO of Netball England and UK Sport. The consummate trailblazer, Rhone ranks among the formidable women who has been conferred with the National Order of Jamaica (OJ). 

>> The Spanish are coming (again)! The owners of Princess Hotels & Resorts are reportedly looking to fulfil a years-long dream of establishing a property in Jamaica – and have already earmarked 186 acres at Green Island in Hanover, closing a deal with “a private owner,” according to the Financial Gleaner. The Spanish hotel chain, founded in 1967, already has properties in the Canary Islands, Mexico and the Dom-Rep. Costa Rica and Jamaica are next. “Jamaica is extremely interesting for the type of products we manage,” says the company’s Caribbean rep, Rafael Millan.

>> The legendary Chris Blackwell has been presented with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA). Blackwell, known for his pioneering exploits in music production (Island Music) and the hotel industry (the luxurious Strawberry Hill, Goldeneye), accepted the honour during the association’s 58th AGM an awards luncheon, held recently at Hilton Rose Hall. Among the other awardees: Chukka Good Hope (Attraction of the Year), the Reggae Girlz (Abe Issa Award) and Caribbean Airlines (Int’l Airline of the Year).

>> Welcome aboard: Jam Air Link Express began local cross-country flights last Monday, with its two-engine Otto aircraft. According to CEO Howard Levy, they will be adding a second plane in the coming weeks. “We are using economical aircraft where the operating costs are less,” Levy says. “We expect to break even in three months.” That’s the spirit!

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