Cliff WilliamsTHE INTERVENTION of consistent heavy rainfall, that interrupted the Heroes Day weekend racing calendar, is a stark reminder of how vulnerable outdoor sporting events are to the vagaries of what is now accepted as a significant change in the global weather pattern.
There can be no doubt that as mankind makes more and more inappropriate use of the planet in terms of poor protection of the environment, particularly as it relates to the emission of greenhouse gases and the rapid loss of critical vegetation due to deforestation, the world has become less habitable.
Flooding in areas where there is no previous history is testimony to the major impact that this is having on vital infrastructure worldwide. There has been a signal failure locally to find the necessary resources to establish a comprehensive system of drainage to mimimise the effect of heavy rainfall on public and private infrastructure.
ECOLOGICAL BALANCE CHANGING
Truth be told, here in Jamaica, which was always described in travel magazines as a lush tropical isle, there is ample evidence that this is changing dramatically with the loss of forestry and consequently soil, as well as unmanaged use of water resources with desperate people establishing housing solutions along riverbanks leading to pollution. The ecological balance in some critical areas is changing for the worse.
Unfortunately, I do not know of a plan to launch any persuasive campaign programme in which the entire nation can participate to arrest and reverse this disturbing trend.
To be fair though, there exists a poorly advertised tree-planting programme, which I am of aware of, having heard it being exposed on a Jamaica Information Service Government broadcast.
Frankly, I have very little recollection of some of the details, except that there was mention of a ridiculously low figure of about 20,000 trees being available for planting with the involvement of school children being critical to the success of the programme.
Conceptually this is fine, but in real terms, this is mere tokenism given the importance and magnitude of the requirement.
Racing as an industry like all other business endeavours does not exist in a vacuum and its success is obviously dependent on what happens in the rest of the economy and to the general infrastructure of the country.
CAUSE FOR CONCERN
The flooding of the stable area once again is cause for concern and has to be addressed in a comprehensive manner given the largely flat topography of the near 200-hectare racing facility.
Whilst the point has been made, by no lesser person than trainer Philip Feanny, that with the sheer volume of rainfall the available drainage was bound to prove inadequate, it would seem to me though that going forward there has to be a reconfiguration of the system to render it more capable of dealing with this type of eventuality.
Inevitably, the racing calendar is going to be interrupted periodically by adverse weather conditions but with careful planning, backed by adequate infrastructure the economic fall-out can be kept to a minimum.
On Heroes Day, I accepted an invitation from Laurie and Ruth Hussey to attend a dinner at the family-run Terra Nova in honour of their son Charles, whose contribution to the racing industry has been recognised by the Government with a National Honour.
CONGRATS TO CHARLES HUSSEY
Charles Hussey, a four-time champion jockey, therefore becomes the fourth professional after trainers Philip Feanny and Kenneth Mattis, as well as jockey Winston Griffiths, to be conferred with the Order of Distinction.
From this column, it's congratulation to the outstanding reinsman, whose response to the tribute was punctuated with applause from the distinguished guests.
It was most certainly a very pleasant, enjoyable and well-attended function with an impressive menu to boot.
The guest list included Keith Binns, William Chin See, Orville Clarke, Neville Cooper, Winston Crighton, Wayne Dacosta, Philip Feanny, Dr. Najeeb Haddad, Ossie Harding, Laurence Heffes, Harold Metcalfe, Dennis Howell, Francisco Mills, Jeffrey Mordecai, Norman Palmer, Louis Phillips, Douglas Vaz and Derek White amongst others.
