Joe Issa’s Love for Quality Socialization: His Best Characteristic

It has become generally accepted that nothing is constant except change. And for Mr. Sociable Joe Issa, the changes are lavish, such as the quality of the people he meets and the events he attends, from welcome and farewell parties, to all the in-betweens like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, awards, launches, dinners, cultural, heritage and music festivals.

“You name it and Joey (pet name for Joe Issa) is in the forefront of the social scene, either as host or guest,” says a colleague of his, adding, “In fact, my friends and I believe that most of the time he is out socializing, he is the one hosting; he has a sense of occasion and a passion for entertaining, and needs no excuse to do so.” 

By his own admission, birthdays and weddings are Joey’s favourite occasions, especially as he has had a blessed life since birth and an even better one since his marriage.

“When you’ve had a blessed life like I’ve been fortunate to have, birthdays are important; it’s an occasion to respect and to treasure the life it has brought you. As for weddings, it’s such an overwhelming occasion … that’s why so many people cry their hearts out … birth and marriage are really sacred; that’s why I like birthdays and wedding anniversaries above all occasions,” says Joey, a Catholic Eucharistic Minister.

Then a youth with big eye glasses, a sign of the time and working at his father’s SuperClubs chain of resorts, Joey is said to recall with much nostalgia, Pope John Paul 11 visiting his family in Barbican and singing happy birthday to his sister Zein.

Similarly, but only older and is Executive Chairman of his Cool Group of companies, Joey recalls with even more melancholy, walking down the aisle with his bride Asha, as Jimmy Cliff sang his favourite, heart-rending song “Many Rivers to Cross”. The occasion was said to have been a washed with tears as many guests wept involuntarily.

Joey is also said to have several other fond memories of nights out, such as a reception hosted by HE French Ambassador Pierre-Antoine Berniard and his simply elegant wife Luisa Berniard; and hosting former British Prime Minister John Major and his wife, who were in Jamaica to celebrate his birthday.

The inaugural appearance in Jamaica of American singer and songwriter, Jimmy Buffet, at the opening of Margaritaville Restaurant and Bar in the Island Village Shopping and Entertainment Centre in Ocho Rios was also a remarkable occasion.

Joey is also said to recall fondly, hosting three honeymoon couples at the Grand Lido Negril resort. The couples Kris and Debbie Bergstrom, William and Sandra Tavares-Finson and Mark and Wendy Lalor were married on the same day and spent their honeymoon there. The resort was Jamaica’s newest all-inclusive and it was Joey who had turned it into a paradise for honeymooners.

And as Resident Manager of Grand Lido Negril, Joey has also been captured in his usual relax mood, striking up a tune for guests in the Piano Bar while Helen Leyden, Grand Lido’s classical pianist assisted.