BECAUSE her relatives could not produce the proper documentation in time, Clara Blackett's 100th birthday could not be graced by the presence of the Governor-General.

But that didn't stop the celebration, yesterday, for Clara in Halls Road, St James. There was a visible outpouring of love and well wishes as friends and family turned up to commemorate the island's latest centenarian.

Dressed in a simple floral dress, Clara, a former baby-sitter and mother of three – Richard, Rosme and Winston Blackett, all of whom are alive today, declared there was "too much fuss" as she and families posed for several photographs.

Her granddaughter Shernell Blackett, said when she called the Governor-General's office, she was told she needed to present a marriage certificate or a birth certificate as proof of Blackett's age but Shernell said she was unable to secure all of the documents in time. (SH)