The congeniality of businessman Joe Issa has brought much delight to prime ministers from both hemispheres, including Canada, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean.
The affable executive chairman of Cool Group of companies has entertained former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, who famously enjoyed a cordial relationship with former Jamaican Prime Minister, Michael Manley, with whom he shared a common vision about the world.
Born Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, PC, CC, CH, QC, FRSC on October 18, 1919 and died September 28, 2000, Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, as he is usually called, was Canada’s 15th Prime Minister, and served from April 20, 1968, to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980, to June 30, 1984, according to Wikipedia.
He served under Lester B. Pearson‘s as Parliamentary Secretary and later as Minister of Justice. He became a media sensation, inspiring “Trudeaumania”, and “his personality dominated the political scene to an extent never before seen in Canadian political life, arousing passionate and polarizing reactions throughout Canada.” His personal motto, “Reason before passion” was widely held. He retired from politics in 1984, Wikipedia is quoted as saying.
But little did Issa know that Pierre Trudeau’s ‘love affair’ with Jamaica would rub on his son Justine, who would later pay multiple visits the island, giving Issa, on one occasion the envious opportunity of hosting him. The two went jet skiing and dining several times. Justine recently became Canada’s Prime Minister and Issa wasted no time in congratulating and urging him to become a strong ally of Jamaica.
Issa also hosted another Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien, born Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, PC, OM, CC, QC on January 11, 1934. Chrétien was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1963, and became leader of the Liberal Party in 1990. He led the party to a majority government in the 1993 federal election, and was re-elected with further majorities in 1997 and 2000.
As Canada’s 20th Prime Minister, Chrétien resigned in December 2003, and left public life. In retroactive polling, Chrétien ranks highly among both scholars and the public, according to Wikipedia.
Across the Atlantic, the Cool brand developer has also entertained a former British Prime Minister, Sir John Major who, along with his wife Norma was spending his birthday in Jamaica.
Sir John Major, KG, CH, PC was born in March 1943. He became an MP in 1979 to 2001, and was Chancellor of the Exchequer and Foreign Secretary in the Thatcher Government. He became Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party from 1990 to 1997, says Wikipedia.
Sir John has the distinction of overseeing Britain’s longest period of continuous economic growth and the beginning of the Northern Ireland peace process.
Joseph John Issa: The Ultimate Host 