TT track star wins gold, home needs repairBy GARY DARMANIE Saturday, July 24 2010
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A Winner: Jehue Gordon speaks with the media at a press conference at the start of the 13th IAAF World Junior Championships on July 19 in Moncton, Can...
Although his son won gold for Trinidad and Tobago (TT) last night, Vincent Gordon earlier yesterday made a public appeal for help to rebuild the family’s home which was damaged by a landslide two years ago.
TT’s track star Jehue Gordon, 18, captured a gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Canada last night, winning the 400 metre hurdles with a time of 49.3 seconds beating closest rival, Japanese Takatoshi Abe.
Jehue began his international career at the age of 16, placing fifth in the 2008 World Junior Championships Athletics. He went on to finish third in the 400 metre hurdles at the 2008 Carifta games and won gold the following year. In the 2009, World Junior Championship in Athens, Greece, he set a world-age best record and a senior national record with a 48.26 second 400- metre hurdle run. Jehue has also been chosen by the BBC as one of 25 athletes to follow for the next two years leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Jehue’s father, Vincent, however invited Newsday yesterday to visit the Papia Village, Morne Coco Road, Maraval, residence of the track star. The small concrete structure is perched approximately 20 feet above the roadway and seemed to be on the verge of collapse. According to Vincent, the house was severely affected by a landslide in 2008 and the family has never been able to recover since. He said the Diego Martin Regional Corporation helped with the removal of some of the material but he and his sons were left with the monumental task of removing a wall of mud, boulders and other debris from their home.
Besides the extensive clean up required, the landslide also resulted in cracked walls and a collapsed roof, among other structural damage to the home.
Vincent, who is a plumber, said the family lost most of their belongings in the landslide and have had to borrow basic appliances such as a refrigerator from friends. “I am appealing to the relevant authorities to give us some aid in the restoration of our home,” said Vincent.
Jehue had cruised into last night’s final with a comfortable 50.54 semi-final win on Wednesday.
When Newsday contacted his family with the news of his win at about 7.10 pm they all erupted in shouts of joy.
Jehue’s mother, Marcella Woods, was full of praise. “Thanks be to God,” were her first words.
She said she had spoken to her son earlier in the afternoon and gave him some advice. “Don’t worry just have faith in God, I know you will uplift your country and your family,” she said.
Minister of People and Social Development Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh yesterday said he had no knowledge of the family’s plight but promised the ministry would do whatever was necessary to help the family.
Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts was also surprised to receive the news about the conditions at the home of the TT track star. “This is the first I am hearing of the Gordons’ situation.” He promised to work with the family to ensure that the home was repaired or even to have them relocated. “We do not have any national policy on such matters but I will do what I can to help alleviate this problem for the family as we would do for any other family,” said Roberts.
(See page 42A)
