Dear Editor,
Even as some regular educated but seemingly pro-Putin blogger sought to be “a vexation to my spirit”, I willingly diminished my interest in the Russian Army’s brutal intensified carnage of Ukrainian civilians and non-military infrastructure. Why? The 49th CARIFTA Games for our Region’s athletes in Jamaica arrested my attention for much of three days.
And this is just to record one – or – two-sentence observations on a glorious contest after the two-year COVID pandemic absence.
First and foremost, despite a little personal ambivalence, my hearty congrats to Guyana’s team. For their grit, determination and pride in Kingston. For their medals too. Why ambivalence? Because though I know COVID would have hampered full preparation, I still feel that athletics have not yet commanded complete official recognition and support. Yet I welcome their assistance to this team returning from CARIFTA 49. The Sport Minister and his Director and his Council cannot afford to short-change these and all athletes after the massive effort over this past week-end in Jamaica. Sterling performances despite local challenges. Two wonderful “golds” among seven medals!
Power-house and hosts Jamaica could not be trumped. You just saw many potential Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryces and Usain Bolts. What an athletic programme in that island-nation!
But the smaller territories held their own too. (Witness the little champion athlete of the games – the BVI’s Adaejah Hodge.) However my Guyanese pride was satisfied beyond measure with the achievements of runner Attoya Harvey as she took on the might – and beautiful “rudeness and ridiculousness” – of the well-trained, feisty Jamaicans. Her female colleague Adriel Austin was also exceptional. But then you could “feel” the pride in performance of every team member. However I state once again: Attoya’s three medals were inspirational.
After the team is suitably celebrated on return to Georgetown, I suspect that, in terms of long-term, intensified development, the Ministry of Sport and the Sport Clubs and associations will be enthused as to how to proceed. From next week!
Yours faithfully,
Allan Arthur Fenty
