Jamaica's Asafa Powell and Sheri-Ann Brooks celebrate after they both won gold in their respective 100m finals at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, last Monday. - REUTERS
PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE Portia Simpson Miller yesterday hailed the record medal haul by the Jamaican team at the just concluded 18th Commonwealth Games in Australia.
She described the achievement as a fitting tribute to outgoing Prime Minister P.J Patterson, .
According to Mrs. Simpson Miller, the performance of the athletes was a direct result of Mr. Patterson's contribution to the development of sports in Jamaica since taking office as Prime Minister in 1992.
Mrs. Simpson Miller was speaking yesterday at a meeting of the People's National Party's National Executive Council of the PNP at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.
Jamaica won a total of 22 medals - 10 gold, four silver and eight bronze - at the Games placing the country in seventh position of the more than 70 competing countries .
"The sporting association can attest to the fact that at no other time in the history of this country, other than under your leadership have we done so well in the area of sport," Mrs. Simpson Miller told Mr. Patterson.
She has also congratulated athletes who did not attain medals at the Games.
She said 100-metre finalist Michael Frater who was disqualified for a second false start did Jamaica proud and also the members of the women's 4x400m relay team who failed to medal due to a faulty baton change.
"It is something that happened at a time when we preferred it should not happen but we must all commend them," said Mrs. Simpson Miller.
- D.E.
