Monday, September 3 2012

JAMAICAS’S Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller has paid glowing tribute to the region’s athletes in the wake of the recently concluded Olympic Games in London, United Kingdom.

“This year was a golden year for the Caribbean – at the Olympic Games in London, our athletes represented the region with pride and with dignity, with their hearts full of love for the Caribbean region,” Simpson-Miller said while delivering remarks at the Prime Minister’s Golden Jubilee Gala at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on Saturday night.

“I want to commend the Government and people, and particularly the gold medallist and all your athletes of Trinidad and Tobago for the kind of representation they gave to the Caribbean region. They made us proud.”

At the Games, TT’s javelin thrower Keshon Walcott, delivered the country’s second gold medal, while its male sprinters placed third in the 4 x 100 relay competition. TT’s quarter milers also placed third in the Men’s 4 x 400 metre relay.

Jamaica was the standout Caribbean nation at the Olympics with sprint sensation Usain Bolt dominating the Men’s 100 and 200 metre races, claiming gold in both events and also claiming another gold in the Men’s 4 x 100 relay. Jamaica also placed first and second respectively in the Women’s 100 metres and 4 x 100 metre relay events. Elsewhere in the region, young Kirani James brought glory to Grenada after winning the Men’s 400 metre event. James was Grenada’s first ever Olympic medallist.

In her address, Simpson-Miller revealed that she had cancelled an engagement to “join my sister (Persad-Bissessar)” for TT’s Jubilee celebrations. Persad-Bissessar had also attended 50th anniversary celebrations in Jamaica on August 6. Simpson-Miller said Jamaica and TT were joined by more than just the Caribbean Sea.

“We are joined by the blood of our ancestors from all over the globe,” she said. The Jamaican PM also noted the similarities between herself and Persad-Bissessar with respect to “uplifting our people and placing our people at the heart and centre of government and governance.”

Also speaking at the event were Guyana prime minister Samuel Hinds, St Kitts/Nevis attorney general Patrice Nesbitt, Surinamese ambassador Harvey Narendip, and head of the Public Service Reynold Cooper.