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Brits' election excitement

Published:Sunday | May 16, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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British High Commissioner Howard Drake welcomes Chief Justice Zaila McCalla.
Businessman Horace Bogues (left) gives undivided attention to Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni at the British high commissioner's election reception held at the high commission on Thursday, May 7. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
PricewaterhouseCoopers' Raymond Binnie (left) chats with Ron and Barbara Sasso.
Gill Drake (right), wife of the British high commissioner, lymes with Titania Ward (left) and Janet Al-Utaibi at the United Kingdom election reception.
Attorney Tom Tavares-Finson (left) and colleague Dr Ronald Robinson (right) joke with Donald Buchanan.
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Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

When there's this much excitement with the British, you probably think it would be about sport.

But this one was about something more serious, as guests journeyed to the British High Commission on May 6 to watch the coverage of the United Kingdom's 2010 general election. Whether it was sleek televisions on the patio or projector screens on the lawn, there was some way for everyone to see the action.

Truth is, this election was like a close cricket match, as none of the major parties was expected to get an outright majority. That made every result that came in a new talking point, from the analysts on BBC World, to those sipping on Red Stripe on the high commission grounds. High Commissioner Howard Drake, who hasn't been here long, said that historically, even with a clear majority, results didn't come in until maybe 3 or 4 a.m. United Kingdom time. So with this one being so close, he invited everyone to stay as long as they liked or "until the beer holds out". And the election watchers needed no second invitation.

On Tuesday last week, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown tendered his resignation to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and David Cameron of the Conservatives succeeded him.

Guests out included Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne, Burchell Whiteman, Diana McCaulay, Damion Crawford, Mark Golding, Peter and Velia Espeut, Thalia and Michael Lyn, French Ambassador Marc-Olivier Gendry, European Union Delegation head Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni, Professor Trevor Munroe, Earl Moxam, Sydian Brissett, Michael Burke, Percival LaTouche, Horace and Josephine Bogues, Donald Buchanan, Keith Collister, Ossie Harding, Professor Errol Miller, Bishop Herro Blair and Dr Orville Taylor.