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Much has been said about the incident involving the Kingston College and Calabar athletes at the end of the 100 meter Class 2 Final. However, most of the discourse has been partisan and by extension, sectarian, with some seemingly suggesting that the Calabar athlete willfully ran in the KC athlete’s lane. I would like to provide an opinion on the issue, and let me declare at the outset that I am a Kingston College Old Boy, having attended the institution from September 1969 to June 1974.

That the Calabar athlete was disqualified for lane interference is well within the rules. That the Kingston College athlete was subsequently ejected from further participation for his subsequent physical attack on the Calabar athlete, was also within the rules and that too was more than acceptable. His initial shoving of the Calabar athlete at the immediate end of the race was unacceptable but understandable, and could have been written off as continued adrenaline-rush. His second attack on the Calabar athlete, though, belies explanation and has to be seen as deliberate provocation and eliciting a fightback response- which thank heavens, never came. I admire the restraint shown by the Calabar athlete for not responding.

In football, his initial shoving would have elicited a “yellow card”, but his second shove would have resulted in a “red card” and immediate ejection. That the Kingston College officials were able to lodge a protest and have the athlete reinstated, may have served the immediate team objective but it scored a “black-eye” for what was otherwise a great Championships.

I am mindful of two things as I consider this. The first is the state of indiscipline among our largely impressionable youth population. What the KC athlete did was wrong, and he was rewarded for it in the jury room by the KC management team. This sends a message that you are okay to be wrong and strong at the same time.

The second reminder was the incident at Champs in 1981 between the KC and Calabar athletes in the Medley Relay at the time. It showed the two institutions at their worst. That so much effort has been expended to repair the relationships between both schools over the years is a matter of record. How this last incident has played out has further injured that relationship.

I find it quite disappointing that a more public effort has not been made by the Kingston College fraternity to address this issue. After all, the incident was captured on public television with snippets of the entire event out there on social media and fueling continued vitriol among the Calabar fraternity.

I believe that the Kingston College youngster owes the entire KC fraternity, the Calabar fraternity, as well as the sponsors an unqualified apology no less than was delivered by Calabar a few years ago at Kingston College.

You cannot be wrong and strong at the same time.

Photo – Official Facebook Page for Jamaica’s Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment & Sports

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The only U.S.-based Caribbean heritage museum,  Island SPACE Museum officially opened in its new location on Saturday, April 8, 2023. Still located in the Broward Mall in Plantain, FL, the new site is significantly larger, providing more space for exhibits and activities.

Island SPACE is particularly important, as 1 in four people in South Florida was born in the Caribbean. The museum provides an archive and exhibition space that features artifacts, cultural relics and historical data representative of South Florida’s Caribbean population. The museum also has information on indigenous Taino people, the 2010 earthquake, plantation life, and governmental entities.

Founded in Oct. 2020 by Island SPACE Board President, Calibe Thompson, and Past Island SPACE President, David I. Muir, the museum is a non-profit organization. It’s dedicated to advancing and promoting the arts, culture and history of the Caribbean. A variety of educational initiatives are conducted throughout the year, representative of the Caribbean, Florida and the wider diaspora.

“A Celebration of the Caribbean” was the theme during the grand re-opening. Activities included a ribbon cutting ceremony by Executive Director, Stephen Meza, a Women Warriors exhibit, and a Jamaican Kumini dance by WAVS Radio personality, “Queen” Maxine Osborne. The Winston Park Elementary Steel Band also performed. Artwork was on display by Jamaican artists Michelle Drummond and Krystle Sabdul, and Sonya Sanchez-Arias of Trinidad-Tobago.

The event drew visitors from around the world, including Antigua, Barbados, Cuba, Guyana, Haiti, St. Lucia, the U.S., Venezuela, and the Middle East. Member of the tourist boards of Jamaica and the Bahamas were on hand to greet guests.

Island SPACE is still located in the Northeast section of Broward Mall and has a full itinerary of upcoming events. Open Thursday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., guests can park in the lot near Broward Blvd. and University Drive.

Photo by Eric Greaves

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Photos – Nick Ford

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This is a podcast of the Jamaica & Caribbean Weekly News Summary for the week ending April 14th, 2023. The JAMAICA WEEKLY News Summary Podcast is brought to you by Jamaicans.com.

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THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS STORIES

Top 7 Jamaican & Caribbean News Stories

JOHNSON SMITH ISSUES WARNING ABOUT ENGAGING IN ILLEGAL MIGRATION
According to Kamina Johnson Smith, Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Jamaicans who are involved with illegal migration are placing themselves at risk for kidnapping, human trafficking, and even death. She urged Jamaicans not to attempt unlawful migration by journeying through Mexico, Panama, or Belize. Illegal entries by Jamaicans have a negative impact on the reputation of the Jamaica passport. She noted that data from Mexico and Panama indicate that 143 Jamaicans were refused entry to Mexico between 2018 and the end of March 2023, while 2,167 Jamaicans were refused entry to Panama over the same period, and 81 were deported. Illegal migration impedes the efforts of Jamaica’s government to improve travel situations for lawful travelers.

JAMAICAN GOVERNMENT TO CONSULT WITH PUBLIC ON IMPACT OF TOURISM ON THE NATION’S ECONOMY
The government of Jamaica plans to launch a series of public consultations throughout the country to discuss matters of tourism and how the industry impacts the nation’s economy. According to Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, the tourism sector has grown by 36 percent over the past 30 years, while total economic growth has totaled ten percent. He stated that all stakeholders should understand the potential opportunities of the sector. He wants to create a framework in which the integrity and promise of brand Jamaica are assured, noting that when the tourism sector succeeds, the entire nation succeeds because the industry is a key driver of the country’s economy.

THIS WEEK’S TOP CARIBBEAN NEWS

THE BAHAMAS RECEIVED US$100 MILLION LOAN FROM CARIBBEAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
A policy-based loan (PBL) amounting to US$100 million has been approved for The Bahamas by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The loan is meant to provide support to The Bahamas as it works on an economic recovery following the disastrous consequences of Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic on the country. The loan is the first in a two-part series of PBLs; a second loan of US$25 million is expected in fiscal 2023-2024. The funds will allow the government of the country to implement a program of legislative, institutional, and policy reforms designed to strengthen fiscal discipline, raise revenue mobilization, and protect the vulnerable.

THIS WEEK’S TOP JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS

KINGSTON NATIVE PRESENTED WITH AWARD BY U.S. NAVY
Jamaican Warren Allen, who is serving as a fireman apprentice in the United States Navy on the USS Iwo Jima, received an award that recognizes him for his “superior dedication.” The leadership on the USS Iwo Jima presents an award each month to the sailors who demonstrate dedication to the ship’s values of learning, improvement, wellness, ownership, and safety. Warren, who is from Kingston, was honored for exemplifying the ship’s core value of ownership. He said the award was very meaningful to him as it shows that his work and his achievements have been recognized. Warren is a graduate of Wolmer’s Boys’ School and currently serves as a machinist’s mate on the amphibious assault ship in the Amphibious Readiness Group/Expeditionary Strike Group. These groups provide ship-to-shore movement via helicopter to the Marine Corps as well as by landing craft. 

THIS WEEK’S TOP BUSINESS NEWS

ICONIC RED STRIPE BRAND EXPANDS INTO READY-TO-DRINK COCKTAIL MARKET
Jamaica’s iconic Red Stripe brand has acknowledged that ready-to-drink cocktails are becoming very popular, and the company has responded by introducing its first rum-based drinks, Red Stripe Rum Punch and Red Stripe Rum Mojito. The new beverages represent a portion of the firm’s “unprecedented venture beyond beer.” The drinks are made with rum, mango, and lime juice in combination with natural flavors and had an ABV of 5.9 percent. According to Oscar Martinez, the senior director of marketing and innovation at Red Stripe’s parent company, Heineken USA, spirit-based cocktails are the most rapidly growing segment of the beer, wine, and spirits industry. Red Stripe is now able to tap into the trend and attract a new generation to the iconic brand. Red Stripe beer has been made in Jamaica since 1928.

THIS WEEK’S TOP ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

RECORDING ARTISTS APPEARING AT CHILDREN CHARITY CONCERT ANNOUNCED
The reggae artists scheduled to appear at the Issa Trust Foundation for the Children Charity Concert on May 27, 2023, include Ky-Mani Marley and Tarrus Riley. They will be joined by Grammy Award-winning vocalist Michael Bolton at the concert to be held at Couples Sans Souci in Ocho Rios. It is hoped that the concert will raise sufficient funds to begin construction of the Mary Issa Health Center near Richmond in St. Ann parish, said Issa Foundation chair, Paul Issa. The facility will provide pediatric and adolescent care. The Foundation was established in 2005 and focuses on pediatric health care for the children of Jamaica. It also addresses education and has provided computer labs at Three Hills Primary School. A charity gala event held by the Trust Foundation in 2022 that featured Third World raised US$417,000, more than doubling its stated goal of US$200,000. 

THIS WEEK’S TOP SPORTS NEWS

JAMAICA WINS MOST MEDALS AT 50TH STAGING OF CARIFTA GAMES
For the 37th consecutive year, Jamaican athletes are bringing home the highest number of medal awarded at the CARIFTA Track & Field Championships, which were held at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, The Bahamas. Jamaican won a total of 78 medals: 40 gold, 22 silver, and 17 bronze. Among the top three medal-winning nations were the host country, The Bahamas, with 10 gold, 13 silver, and 23 bronze medals for a total of 46, and Trinidad and Tobago, which won nine gold, 10 silver, and 12 bronze for a total of 31 medals. Thirty-six of the CARIFTA medals were attained on the boys’ side, while 42 medals came on the girls’ side.

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