POWELL
WORLD 100M record holder Asafa Powell will become the latest local sports star to get a land grant from the government.
In his vote of thanks at yesterday's CVM Newsmaker of the Year awards, Prime Minister PJ Patterson revealed that Powell will receive a lot and ''proper housing'' in recognition of his 100 metre world record performance.
While the PM said talks have not yet begun with the athlete, he mentioned that they will also assist Powell to build on the land.
The Prime Minister made it clear that the government will give Powell similar treatment to that given to the Reggae Boyz who qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France.
In 1997 all members of the Reggae Boyz team to the World Cup finals were promised land.
Prime Minister Patterson, who is expected to leave office in under two months again spoke of how delighted he was when Powell broke the world record.
The Prime Minister who was in attendance at the second South Summit of the G77 Group and China in Doha, Qatar, said when Powell ran the record-breaking 9.77 seconds, every head of government came and congratulated him.
