Close to 300 people fill the conference hall of the AC Marriott in Kingston on this second Tuesday of January 2024. Parents, friends, collaborators, and partners have gathered, dressed in various degrees of chic-casual attire, creating a friendly atmosphere. The occasion is special: Denis O’Brien is stepping down as the president of Digicel on January 9, 2024. An evening of tribute is dedicated to his extraordinary work within the company, which he founded and led for 25 years, encompassing both entrepreneurship and philanthropy across more than thirty countries.
It is 7:45 PM, and the sun has long set. The hotel's ambient lighting gently caresses the outfits of the guests. Occasional bursts of laughter punctuate the room, rising above the warmth of conversations. The setting is elegant and respectful, yet devoid of nostalgia, promising an emotionally charged evening for Denis O’Brien, the man of the hour. Guests resist taking their seats as Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness arrives for the ceremony.
"First things first: the food," as the MC of the
