The splendour of Christmas in the Caribbean will be celebrated this Friday at a party jointly hosted by the local Barbados Association, Jamaican Association and West Indian Association.

The Caribbean Community Christmas bash will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday with a cocktail hour sponsored by Bacardi.

"On the night, the repertoire of music will range from the delightful calypso beats, 'parang' (Caribbean folk music often sung in Spanish), pulsating 'zoul' (meaning party in Creole and originating from Guadeloupe, Martinique and Haiti) and reggae vibrations spub by DJ LaMontagne and Barmuvinjam DJ D General," event organisers said in a press release.

Among the guest speakers will be Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess and there will also be several performances by Jamaican recording artists Septimus.

Organisers pointed out that the Caribbean islands have much shared history with Bermuda, and urged: "We invite readers to visit http://www.bermudabiographies.bm, an incredibly informative website which chronicles individuals of all backgrounds who contributed to Bermudian history and explore the profiles of Sir Edward Richards (Guyana), Bermuda's first government leader; Victor Scott (Jamaica), an influential educator; and, Dr. Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon (Trinidad), a physician, parliamentarian and labour leader who was also father to Bermuda's first female premier Pamela Gordon."

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Sunshine League of Bermuda (www.sunshineleague.bm).

Tickets for the event will be $100 and include free sorrel, punch o'creme and free Bacardi spirits during the cocktail hour, a three-course buffet meal and dancing from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Tickets are available at In Between Boutique, the Edge and Jamaican Grill or through committee members by calling 524-1288 or 505-8923.