Tony Becca
THE PERFORMANCE of Jamaica's athletes at the recent Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, was not surprising. It simply, once again, highlighted the country's greatness in the world of sports.
Over the years, and especially so in cricket, athletics, boxing, football and netball, Jamaica has produced some of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen in the world. It has been involved in some of the greatest performances in the history of sport and it has not been by chance.
Apart from the obvious talent of Jamaicans, Jamaica's greatness in sport is due to the love for sport by the Jamaican people, to the belief in themselves, to the will to excel, to the work of volunteers, to the assistance of the private sector and to the support of successive governments and more so the leaders of government.
Starting with Norman Manley, who was an outstanding schoolboy athlete, through Edward Seaga and Michael Manley and to P. J. Patterson, Jamaica's leaders - all of them or most of them loved sports - supported the development of sport and all of them, dead or alive, deserve, along with the athletes and coaches, managers, associations and all those involved with their development, a special toast for the wonderful display in Melbourne.
As talented as the country's ambassadors have been, without the support of the country's leaders, without their contribution and especially so in recent years when, with so many pressing needs and despite many criticisms, they stretched the dollar to include sport, what happened in Melbourne may never have happened. It is as simple as that.
THANKS TO PATTERSON
Today, however, we should say a special thank you to Patterson - the man who, as Prime Minister and in his own quiet way, probably did more for sport than any other PM.
Like every other Jamaican, the Prime Minister loved whenever Jamaica or Jamaicans won, and he was elated whenever Jamaica or Jamaicans won. To him, however, sport was more than winning - to him sport was also about building character, about offering opportunities to young Jamaicans and because of that he believed in providing facilities, coaching and opportunities for young Jamaicans.
As chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC) P.J. focussed on playing fields and coaches, on education and on opportunities.
I will never forget that day in 1994 when, at a meeting of the NSC, Horace Burrell, then president of the Jamaica Football Federation, presented a request for financial support for the Reggae Boyz campaign to France and after he had left the meeting, after the meeting had discussed the matter and had turned down the request, Prime Minister Patterson addressed the meeting and then asked one question: Are you going to deny these young Jamaicans the opportunity to fulfil their dream?
The answer was a resounding no, and the rest is history.
Under Prime Minister Patterson, Jamaica was indeed fortunate.
Not only did they have a PM who loved sport, but in Portia Simpson Miller they also had a minister with responsibility for sport who had a passion for sport - a minister who today takes over as Prime Minister, who, as the leader, is sure to maintain her love for sport, who is certain to continue her contribution to sport and under whom Jamaica's sport is destined to continue flourishing.
On behalf of the sporting fraternity, thank you Prime Minister Patterson, welcome and good luck Prime Minister Simpson Miller.
