JG - Charles Hanna celebrates 60

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Gleaner

Charles Hanna celebrates 60

published: Sunday May 18, 2008

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Suzanne Issa (left) with Charles Hanna and Jackie Issa at Hanna's birthday party in Stony Hill, St Andrew. On Friday, January 23, 1998, at a reception at the then Crown Plaza Hotel in Manor Park, at the launch of the commemorative book, Edward Rasheed Hanna - The Man and His Times, the esteemed Robert MacMillan, in his dedication, spoke of his childhood and the fond memories it held of his many visits to the castle on the hill overlooking Kingston, and of the 'king' of the castle and his beloved family. The 'king' was the late Edward Rasheed Hanna and the castle was the Hannas family home, The Knole, located in Stony Hill in upper St Andrew.

(Note: The "then Crown Plaza Hotel in Manor Park" is now the Colin L. Powell Residential Plaza and was formerly the site of Fort Belle.- CAA)

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"(T)he Hannas and their sense of place in Jamaica's history are long documented.

Charles Hanna was born in Kingston, the son of Edward and Olga Hanna; Edward being the son of an immigrant family from Lebanon who settled in Jamaica in the mid-1800s.

Through industry, commitment and hard work, Hanna went on to become one of the island's wealthiest businessmen.

With a portfolio that included dry goods, industry and real estate, the Hanna name became a household one.

At the time of his death in 1978, the mantle of carrying on the family business was passed to his son and heir Charles."

&

"Among the shortlist of critically hand-picked guests were his sister, the charmingly lovely Mary Hanna; former US Embassy charge d'affaires Lacy Wright; long-time Hanna family friend Robert MacMillan; glamour sisters Jackie and Suzanne Issa, their sister-in-law, the lovely and elegant Oriente Issa; Chris Bovell and his charmingly elegant wife Michelle; Earl Levy and his wife, the gracious Beverly Junor-Levy and their daughter, the lovely Susan Louis; Anthony and Jeanne Watson and their son James; Norman Rae; and Roger and Sheila Butler."