Saluting and applauding excellence, longevity
Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) has come a long way since opening its first branch on Water Lane in downtown Kingston in 1878. More than a century later, the financial institution, not comfortably resting on its laurels as one of the country’s leading titans of banking (with 14 branches, as well as money transfer, wealth management and property services divisions), is surging forward to keep pace alongside competitors with super-attractive lending rates to borrowers.
Celebrating the company’s 136th anniversary, VMBS President and Chief Executive Officer Richard K Powell welcomed customers and corporate allies last Friday evening to a President’s Cocktail — also serving as a tie-in with Jamaica Observer Salut! Applaud It week of caterer culinary celebrations — on the East Lawn of Devon House.
The Jacqui Tyson-catered event, featuring an “island-style fusion” menu of such delectable eats as lamb lollipops, seafood paella, seared scallops wrapped in bacon, soft crab backs stuffed with mozzarella cheese, fajitas and her signature mango-glazed pig’s tail, was a certifiable hit, evident by the constant lengthy queues.
Formalities for the evening were handled by VMBS’s CEO Richard K Powell, who reflected on the company’s journey and its consistent growth, in his welcome address. Shortly thereafter, he called on management executives Keri-Gaye Brown, Vivienne Bayley-Hay and Peter Reid to join him in cutting a vanilla custard cake embedded with smores filling created by Observer Food Awards-winning pâtissière Alecia Woodbine.
Guests were then treated to a musical performance by reggae songstress icon Marcia Griffiths, and partied into the night with a playlist of ’80s, soca, and contemporary pop songs by DJ Denvo Thombs.
— Omar Tomlinson